Overnight strikes hit residential areas
Russian forces launched fresh aerial attacks across Ukraine overnight, killing at least five people, Ukrainian officials said Monday. Air raid sirens sounded in multiple regions as explosions were reported in cities across the country. Emergency crews spent the night pulling residents from damaged buildings, and officials warned that the death toll could rise as rubble is cleared.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of targeting civilian infrastructure. He said the strikes hit residential buildings, power facilities and a warehouse. Russian authorities, meanwhile, reported that a warehouse in their own territory was hit, without giving further details. Moscow said its air defenses shot down multiple Ukrainian drones overnight.
Zelensky accuses Moscow of targeting civilians
"They are fighting our people, not our army," Zelensky said in an evening address. He repeated his call for Western allies to supply more air defense systems and long-range weapons. Ukrainian officials said air defenses intercepted a portion of the incoming missiles and drones, but several got through.
The attacks come after weeks of intense exchanges. Ukrainian forces reported new advances in the Dnipropetrovsk region, while Russian military bloggers described heavy fighting along several front-line towns. Neither side's claims could be independently verified.
Diplomatic pressure grows
The overnight bombardment renewed international calls for de-escalation. Several European governments issued statements condemning the strikes and offered additional humanitarian aid. No ceasefire talks are currently scheduled, and diplomats said the path to negotiations remains blocked.
Residents in the affected cities described a night of chaos. "We hid in the basement for hours," one survivor told local media. "The building shook like it was made of paper." Local authorities set up temporary shelters and began assessing the damage to power lines and heating systems ahead of the coming winter months. The United Nations said it was verifying reports of civilian casualties and called on both sides to spare populated areas.