Russia launched a large-scale overnight attack in several areas of Ukraine killing at least seven people and wounding dozens more, Ukrainian officials said.
Missiles and drones hit residential areas and critical infrastructure as NATO leaders convened for critical security talks in the wake of NATO leaders in Munich.
Emergency response teams worked through the night to save survivors trapped in collapsed buildings, officials said.
Residential and public facilities were also heavily damaged, and fires started in different parts of the country following the strikes, national officials said.
Ukraine’s air defense systems intercepted a large number of incoming drones and missiles, the military said.
But some missiles penetrated the country’s defenses and killed many people and caused widespread damage, the military said.
The number of casualties could increase as emergency workers continue searching for the wounded.
The latest attack took place at an opportune moment as NATO talks on regional security and support for Ukraine are ongoing.
In the longer term the alliance would think about military support, air defense and how Ukraine can continue to defend itself against Russian threats.
Ukrainian leaders saw the strikes as “reckless” attacks in occupied territory and called for international partners to rapidly launch advanced air defense systems.
They said stronger military support was now needed to protect civilians and critical infrastructure from future attacks.
Meanwhile, Russia has said it is driven by strategic objectives, but past strikes have resulted in civilian casualties and damage to non-military infrastructure.
The war has only exacerbated Europe’s security problems and raised humanitarian concerns further.
International leaders expressed alarm at the escalation and said diplomatic efforts would be necessary and Ukraine would be supported in every way possible.
Humanitarian organizations also warn that repeated attacks on civilian infrastructure are putting pressure on emergency services and displacing thousands of residents.
It’s a challenging situation for NATO to sort out and how it should respond next, as it is not easy now to know how to respond to the latest overnight attack.
As diplomatic efforts continue, Ukraine faces mounting humanitarian challenges while international leaders weigh stronger responses, underscoring the conflict's enduring impact on regional security and civilian lives
