Russian missile kills six, including two children, in Kryvyi Rih; at least 13 dead in Ukraine strikes, Poland scrambles jets

Overnight barrage

Russia launched a wave of missile and drone attacks across Ukraine overnight, triggering nationwide air raid alerts. Explosions were heard in the capital Kyiv and strikes reached as far west as Lviv, near the Polish border. By Thursday morning, authorities confirmed at least 13 people had been killed and dozens more injured. The attacks involved dozens of missiles and hundreds of drones, according to Ukrainian officials.

“The Russians prepared a massive attack several days ago and there is a high probability it will be launched tonight. Please, in all regions of Ukraine, pay attention to air raid alerts and stay safe.”

Kryvyi Rih: a family home struck

The deadliest single strike hit Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of President Zelenski, in central Ukraine. A Russian Iskander-M ballistic missile, launched from the Voronezh region, struck a large family's home directly. Six people were killed, including two girls aged 5 and 12, and eight others were injured. Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the city's defense council, described the scene on Telegram.

“A dark night. The missile hit the house of a large family. The death toll may rise as emergency crews remove the rubble.”

Other cities hit

In Kyiv, one person died and two were injured after several non-residential buildings caught fire, mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Six more people, including two children, were killed in the Dnipropetrovsk and Poltava regions. In Lviv, two apartment buildings were damaged by Russian missiles. Rescue teams worked to clear debris and reach those trapped. Local officials reported between 15 and 26 injured, with search operations ongoing.

Poland scrambles jets

As the strikes unfolded, NATO member Poland scrambled fighter jets and an early warning aircraft to secure its airspace. Ground-based air defense and radar surveillance systems were placed on high alert. The Polish armed forces later announced that an unidentified object had been detected in the country's airspace overnight, and a possible impact site was located near the village of Tarnawa-Kolonia in Lublin province, close to the Ukrainian border.

Zelensky's warning and US trip

Hours before the bombardment, President Zelenski had publicly warned that Ukrainian intelligence indicated Russia was preparing a large-scale aerial attack. He was returning from the United States, where he said President Donald Trump had agreed to grant Ukraine licenses for Patriot missile production. Zelenski reiterated his appeal for Western allies to supply additional air defense systems, stating that the safety of Ukrainians depended directly on their willingness to act.

Ukrainian drone strike on Wildberries

Separately, Russian authorities reported that a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at a Wildberries online retail warehouse in the city of Penza. One person was injured and about 200 were evacuated, according to the regional governor. Reuters noted it could not independently verify the claims.