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Russia attacked Ukraine with over 280 bombs, 370 drones, 80 missiles this week, Zelensky says

2 min read
Russia attacked Ukraine with over 280 bombs, 370 drones, 80 missiles this week, Zelensky says
First responders at the site of a Russian attack in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Ukraine, on Dec. 25, 2024. (State Emergency Service)

Russia has escalated its aerial assault on Ukraine, launching more than 280 KAB guided bombs, nearly 370 attack drones, and over 80 missiles in the past week, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Dec. 29.

"Our cities and communities are under constant Russian attacks. Even on Christmas night, Russia organized a massive air attack," Zelensky wrote on Telegram, sharing footage of the destruction across Ukraine.

On Dec. 25, Russia conducted a large-scale attack, firing 78 missiles and 106 drones against multiple cities. Kharkiv came under "massive fire" from ballistic missiles, resulting in one death and six injuries.

During the same attack, a Russian missile entered Moldovan airspace, Moldovan President Maia Sandu confirmed.

Unverified reports claimed another missile entered Romanian airspace, though Romania's Defense Ministry denied any violation. Poland scrambled fighter jets in response to the missile threat in western Ukraine, according to the Polish Operational Command.

"I am grateful to the defenders who save our people from daily attacks and to the partners who understand the importance of timely air defense to protect lives and bring a just and fair peace," Zelensky said.

The president underscored the need for collective action, saying, "Such terror can only be stopped with joint efforts."

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Tim Zadorozhnyy

Reporter

Tim Zadorozhnyy is the reporter for the Kyiv Independent, specializing in foreign policy, U.S.-Ukraine relations, and political developments across Europe and Russia. Based in Warsaw, he is pursuing studies in International Relations and the European Studies program at Lazarski University, offered in partnership with Coventry University. Tim began his career at a local television channel in Odesa in 2022. After relocating to Warsaw, he spent a year and a half with the Belarusian independent media outlet NEXTA, initially as a news anchor and later as managing editor. Tim is fluent in English, Ukrainian, and Russian.

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As Russia bombards Ukraine with Shahed drones almost every night, the 12th Army Aviation Brigade takes to the skies in decades-old helicopters to intercept them. The Kyiv Independent’s Kollen Post joined the pilots to understand how they fly, maneuver, and shoot down drones in darkness — and what keeps them going.

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