Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Russia launched a large-scale overnight drone and missile attack on Ukraine, killing and injuring civilians and causing widespread destruction in multiple cities.
In a statement on April 16, Zelenskyy said nearly 700 drones and 19 ballistic missiles were launched during the assault, with Kyiv among the main targets.
“There were nearly 700 Russian drones over the previous day and evening and during the night. There were also missiles: 19 ballistic ones and also cruise missiles this night. Most of the ballistics were aimed at Kyiv,” read part of the statement.
He said Ukrainian forces intercepted 636 drones and some missiles, though several still struck residential areas.
Zelenskyy Details Large-Scale Russian Strike
The Ukrainian President confirmed that fatalities were reported in Odesa, Kyiv, and Dnipro, including a 12-year-old boy, while about 100 people were injured.
Zelenskyy condemned the attack, arguing that Russia “does not deserve any easing of global policy or lifting of sanctions” and called for sustained international pressure.
He also thanked Germany, Norway, and Italy for ongoing air defence support, and said Ukraine is working with the Netherlands on additional military supplies.
Zelenskyy added that, despite significant interception success, the attack damaged civilian infrastructure and stressed the urgent need for the timely delivery of pledged air defense systems from international partners.
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How Attacks Were Spread Out Across Ukraine
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said 26 of the injured were admitted to hospital, noting that emergency responders were among those affected alongside children.
At the same time, it was reported that at least eight people were killed in the southern port city of Odesa and two others in the central-eastern city of Dnipro.
In Kyiv, multiple districts were hit, causing widespread damage. In Podilskyi district, a non-residential building was directly struck, while nearby residential structures, a hotel, and the upper floors of an apartment block were damaged or set ablaze.
In Obolonskyi district, an office block and nearby vehicles were damaged, while in Desnyanskyi district, debris sparked a fire at a two-storey residential building.
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Ukraine Targets Russia’s Oil Refinery
On the other hand, Ukrainian drones reportedly targeted the Tuapse Oil Refinery in Russia’s southern Krasnodar Krai region during an overnight strike on April 16.
Krasnodar Krai Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said debris from the attack also struck an enterprise in the Tuapse seaport area, though he did not specifically name the refinery.
He further reported that residential areas in Tuapse were affected, with two children aged five and 14 killed and two adults injured.
The facility, operated by Rosneft, is among Russia’s largest oil refineries, ranking within the top ten in capacity.
