Russia's Mass Drone Strike
- Russia launched one of its biggest air assaults of the war early April 25, firing 619 drones and 47 missiles at Ukraine, with Dnipro hit hardest and at least seven people killed. - Ukraine’s air force said it shot down 580 drones and 30 missiles, but strikes still destroyed homes in Dnipro, wounded 57 people, and sent emergency crews searching rubble. - The barrage was the fourth straight day of attacks on Dnipro, a logistics and volunteer hub for eastern Ukraine, deepening pressure on cities far from the front. (rferl.org)
Russia hit Ukraine with 619 drones and 47 missiles early on April 25, and Dnipro took the heaviest blow. (abc.net.au) (reuters.com) Ukraine’s air force said it downed 580 drones and 30 missiles, but enough got through to destroy homes, spark fires, and hit multiple regions. (abc.net.au) (aljazeera.com) In Dnipro, regional officials said at least seven people were killed and 57 injured after an apartment building and other civilian sites were struck. (kyivindependent.com) (abc.net.au) Kharkiv was also hit, with Mayor Ihor Terekhov saying a missile struck near a residential building and destroyed a public transport stop. (kyivindependent.com) Dnipro has now faced four consecutive days of Russian attacks, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, with the April 25 barrage lasting more than 12 hours overnight. (rferl.org) That city matters beyond its size. Dnipro is a key military logistics center and a volunteer hub moving wounded soldiers, aid, and equipment toward the eastern front. (rferl.org) Mayor Borys Filatov said Russian forces used a “double-tap” pattern in Dnipro, striking the same residential area again as city officials and specialists were working there. (kyivindependent.com) Reuters reported the attack was among the largest aerial barrages of the war, underscoring how Russia is sustaining pressure with mass drone swarms even when Ukrainian defenses intercept most incoming targets. (reuters.com) By Saturday afternoon, rescuers were still clearing rubble in Dnipro, and the latest casualty counts were still rising as crews searched damaged buildings. (kyivindependent.com) (apnews.com)
