Ukrainian authorities reported that at least 12 people were killed and dozens wounded in a large-scale Russian missile and drone assault that struck across the country on Tuesday. The attacks occurred days after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had warned that Moscow was preparing for a significant offensive.

Ukraine’s air force stated that Russia launched a total of 656 drones and 73 missiles during the overnight bombardment. This widespread assault represents one of the most significant aerial attacks on Ukraine in recent times, intensifying concerns about Russia's military strategy.

In the capital, Kyiv, Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that at least four people died and 58 others were injured, including two children, in what he described as a “mass enemy attack.” Emergency services worked to address the aftermath, with firefighters seen tackling blazes at damaged sites.

The Dnipropetrovsk region in central Ukraine was also heavily impacted, with Governor Oleksandr Ganzha reporting at least eight fatalities and at least 36 individuals injured, also including children. In Kharkiv, in the northeast, ten people, including a child, sustained injuries.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence claimed the bombardment targeted Ukraine’s military-industrial complex and infrastructure. A statement indicated that the “massive strike” utilized “high-precision weapons” and was directed at targets in Kyiv, Zaporizhia, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk regions, as well as energy and transport infrastructure deemed vital for the Ukrainian military.

Meanwhile, Ukraine also conducted drone strikes. One such attack resulted in a fatality in Russia’s Kursk region, near the border, according to Governor Alexander Khinshtein. Another Ukrainian drone strike reportedly caused a fire at an oil refinery in the southwestern Russian city of Krasnodar.

President Zelenskyy had previously urged citizens to remain vigilant, stating on Friday that intelligence indicated an impending large-scale Russian strike. He emphasized the importance of heeding air raid alerts and trusting the country's defense forces, who he said were operating around the clock.

The current escalation follows a period where international peace efforts, largely led by the United States since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022, have seen limited progress, with the US administration currently prioritizing other global conflicts.