April 15 - Ukrainian authorities reported that Russia launched a major overnight strike composed of hundreds of drones and three ballistic missiles, focusing some attacks on port infrastructure in the southern region and causing casualties across several cities.
According to a statement from Ukraine's air force, 324 drones were launched from 6 p.m. (1500 GMT) on Tuesday and three ballistic missiles were also fired. Air defence units managed to shoot down or neutralise 309 of the unmanned aircraft, but the air force said the three ballistic missiles and 13 drones struck targets at nine separate locations.
Regional officials described civilian harm and structural damage in multiple localities. In the southeastern city of Dnipro, Governor Oleksandr Ganzha said on the Telegram messaging app that three people were injured during an overnight drone assault. Ganzha reported damage to a nine-story apartment block and to an administrative building, and posted photos showing a large, gaping hole in the side of one residential structure. He noted that this strike followed a missile attack on the city the previous day that killed five people and wounded close to 30.
In the central city of Cherkasy, Governor Ihor Taburets said four people sought medical attention after an overnight drone attack. Officials in the Kyiv region also reported a separate drone strike, though authorities have not provided further details in their initial statements.
Authorities in the southeastern oblast of Zaporizhzhia said early on Wednesday that shelling had killed a woman. Governor Ivan Fedorov, writing on Telegram, identified the victim as a 74-year-old saleswoman who was killed in a kiosk. He added that the attack damaged a car park, business premises and nearby residential buildings.
Port infrastructure in the southern Odesa region on the Black Sea was also targeted, Governor Oleh Kiper reported, with damage to administrative and warehouse buildings. Officials characterized the strikes as another wave of attacks on coastal logistics and support facilities.
Across the reported incidents, Ukrainian authorities indicated that air defences were largely effective in intercepting the drone wave, but acknowledged that the missiles and some drones reached and struck ground targets, producing casualties and physical damage to homes, businesses and port-related buildings.
Context for readers
The official counts and damage assessments at this stage reflect initial reports from regional governors and the national air force. Local officials are documenting injuries, a confirmed fatality, and structural impacts to residential, administrative and warehouse properties following the strikes.