Ukraine war: More than 30 people lose their lives in the biggest Russian bombardment recorded so far

Russia’s recent missile bombardment in Ukraine has resulted in the deaths of over 30 individuals, marking it as the most extensive attack of its kind in the ongoing war.

In addition to the fatalities, more than 160 people sustained injuries as Russia targeted various cities including Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, and Lviv during the early hours of Friday morning. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia utilized a wide range of weaponry, causing damage to residential areas and even a maternity hospital.

The Ukrainian air force, which witnessed an unprecedented number of missiles launched simultaneously, acknowledged the significant improvement in Kyiv’s air defenses in recent months but admitted that they were overwhelmed on Friday.

The air force spokesperson highlighted the utilization of hypersonic, cruise, and ballistic missiles, including the challenging-to-intercept X-22 type. Despite the devastating impact, the air force managed to intercept and shoot down 114 out of 158 missiles and drones. The scenes of destruction, with black smoke emanating from various blast sites, were evident throughout the affected areas.

One such location was a warehouse in Kyiv’s Podilskyy district, which had been completely hollowed out by a direct missile strike, showcasing the level of devastation caused. While falling debris had previously posed a constant threat to Ukrainian civilians, the recent attack has reintroduced an even greater danger.

In the vicinity, a skyscraper had suffered significant damage as a result of a powerful impact, causing the glass on one entire side to be blown off.

The sky began to darken due to the smoke that had started to fill the air. This drive through Kyiv was one that we hadn’t taken since the early stages of the full-scale invasion.

Tragically, nine individuals lost their lives in Kyiv, and even a metro station, which was being utilized as an air raid shelter, was not spared from being struck. However, it wasn’t only Kyiv that was left to pick up the pieces.

Reports indicated that more than 10 Iranian-made Shahed drones and 15 missiles targeted the western city of Lviv, which has typically been spared from the worst of this invasion. Additionally, a missile hit the city of Konotop in the Sumy Region near the country’s northern border, while in Odesa, officials reported that a high-rise building caught fire after being struck by a drone, resulting in four fatalities and 22 injuries, including two young children aged six and eight.

The city of Kharkiv in the northeast, although accustomed to missile strikes, experienced an unprecedented 20 strikes on Friday morning, resulting in three deaths and 13 injuries. These strikes caused damage to a hospital and residential buildings.

The governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region expressed his sorrow over the “tragic morning for the region,” as six individuals lost their lives and 28 were injured.

The regional capital of Dnipro was targeted, with a shopping center and a maternity hospital being among the locations affected. Lastly, in Zaporizhzhia, eight individuals lost their lives due to attacks on infrastructure, and 13 people sustained injuries.