A Russian missile and drone barrage across Ukraine killed at least eight to 10 civilians, including children, and wounded dozens, with one missile crossing into Poland and prompting NATO to scramble jets.
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Key facts
- Russian strikes across Ukraine killed at least eight civilians, according to one NPR report, with a later report citing at least 10, including children.
- Dozens of people were wounded in the barrage.
- One of the missiles crossed the border into Poland, prompting NATO to scramble jets.
- The attacks expanded Russia's near-daily bombardment of Ukrainian cities.
- Moscow appeared to exploit Kyiv's critical shortage of Western-supplied anti-ballistic missile defenses.
A wave of Russian missile and drone strikes hit cities across Ukraine, killing civilians and wounding dozens, according to reporting by NPR. Early accounts placed the death toll at at least eight civilians, while a later report cited at least 10 dead, including children.
The barrage expanded what NPR described as Russia’s almost daily bombardment of Ukrainian cities. The strikes came as Moscow apparently looked to exploit Kyiv’s critical shortage of Western-supplied anti-ballistic missile defenses.
The attacks also spilled beyond Ukraine’s borders. According to NPR, one of the Russian missiles crossed the border into Poland, a NATO member state.
In response to the incursion, NATO scrambled jets after the missile entered Polish airspace, NPR reported. The development raised the prospect of the conflict drawing more directly into the airspace of an alliance member.
Beyond the reported casualty figures and the missile crossing into Poland, further specifics on the locations struck and the total number of wounded were not detailed in the available reporting.
Why it matters
The strikes underscore the mounting civilian toll of Russia's near-daily bombardment and Ukraine's shortage of air defenses. A missile crossing into Poland, prompting NATO jets to scramble, raises the risk of the war spilling into alliance territory.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were killed in the Russian strikes?
Reporting by NPR cited at least eight civilians killed in one account and at least 10, including children, in another, with dozens wounded.
Did a missile hit Poland?
According to NPR, one of the Russian missiles crossed the border into Poland, prompting NATO to scramble jets.
Why were Ukrainian cities vulnerable to the strikes?
NPR reported that Moscow apparently looked to exploit Kyiv's critical shortage of Western-supplied anti-ballistic missile defenses.
Timeline
- Russian and Ukrainian strikes kill 14 on both sides
Al Jazeera: Ukrainian strikes target Russian oil hubs and high-rises as Zelenskyy warns of critical Patriot interceptor shortages
- Russian strikes on Kyiv kill at least nine, Ukraine officials say
BBC World: The attack comes as Moscow escalates deadly ballistic missile attacks on the Ukrainian capital.
- Russian strikes across Ukraine kill at least 8 civilians and wound dozens
NPR News: The blitz expanded Russia's almost daily bombardment of Ukrainian cities as Moscow apparently looked to exploit Kyiv's critical shortage of Western-supplied anti-ballistic missile defenses.
- Russian strikes across Ukraine kill 10 and a missile falls in Poland
NPR News: A Russian missile and drone barrage across Ukraine killed at least 10 civilians, including children, and NATO scrambled jets after one of the missiles crossed the border into Poland.