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Russia hammered civilian areas of Ukraine with a whole lot of drones and dozens of missiles in an assault that stretched for hours from daytime into the evening, killing no less than 16 folks and injuring greater than 80 others as terrified residents cowered of their houses, officers stated Thursday.
Russia launched almost 700 drones and dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles, primarily focusing on civilians, in its largest aerial barrage in nearly two weeks, authorities stated.
Tetiana Sokol, a 54-year-old resident of Kyiv, stated two missiles hit close to her residence and she or he took cowl together with her canine within the hallway as flashes lit up the evening and home windows shattered from the blast wave.
“On the third assault every little thing broke, every little thing flew, we have been shocked, we didn’t know the place to run. I grabbed no matter got here at hand and ran away with the canine,” she instructed The Related Press. “I nonetheless can’t discover the cats in the home, they climbed out someplace, I don’t even know. No home windows, nothing, the canine continues to be strolling round in stress.”
RUSSIAN WINTER STRIKE LEAVES NEARLY 800K HOMES WITHOUT POWER AND HEAT IN UKRAINE’S DNIPRO REGION
Firefighters work to extinguish a hearth in Kyiv after a Russian strike on April 16, 2026. Russia launched a whole lot of drones and dozens of missiles at civilian areas throughout Ukraine, killing no less than 16 folks and injuring greater than 80, officers stated. (Serhii Okunev / AFP through Getty Photos)
Moscow’s forces have hit civilian areas nearly day by day since its all-out invasion of its neighbor greater than 4 years in the past, with the common assaults sometimes punctuated by large assaults. Greater than 15,000 Ukrainian civilians have died within the strikes, the United Nations says.
Zelenskyy on a mission to enhance air defenses
The newest bombardment got here within the wake of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s 48-hour journey this week to Germany, Norway and Italy in an pressing seek for extra air protection programs that may cease Russian missiles.
Ukraine has developed a major home arms business, particularly within the manufacturing of drones and missiles, however it will probably’t but match the sophistication of U.S. Patriot air protection programs. Ukraine’s high diplomatic precedence is securing allies’ assist to purchase and construct extra and higher air defenses, Zelenskyy stated this week.
Money-strapped Ukraine additionally wants the speedy disbursement of a promised mortgage from the European Union of 90 billion euros ($106 billion) that has been blocked by Hungary.
Ukraine fears the Iran warfare is burning via stockpiles of the superior American-made programs it wants, and has argued towards a U.S. momentary waiver on Russian oil sanctions that Kyiv says helps finance the Kremlin’s warfare effort.
A lady walks her canine via the rubble of a home broken in a Russian strike on Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 16, 2026. Officers stated Russian forces fired almost 700 drones and a number of missiles in a sweeping assault on Ukrainian civilians that lasted from day into evening. (AP Picture/Evgeniy Maloletka)
“One other evening has confirmed that Russia doesn’t deserve any easing of worldwide coverage or lifting of sanctions,” Zelenskyy stated on X.
He thanked Germany, Norway and Italy for new agreements this week on supporting Ukraine’s air protection. Officers are additionally working with the Netherlands on extra provides, he stated.
On the similar time, he famous that some companion nations have not adopted via on pledges of army help.
“I’ve instructed the Commander of the Air Power to contact these companions who earlier dedicated to offering missiles for Patriot and different programs,” Zelenskyy stated.
Different areas of Ukraine and Russia have been additionally hit
The bombardment was the largest in weeks. Final month, Russia fired 948 drones and 34 missiles within the house of 24 hours within the largest assault of the warfare on civilian areas.
A minimum of 4 folks have been killed in a single day in Kyiv, together with a 12-year-old, with greater than 50 others injured, in keeping with authorities. Officers stated the attack damaged 17 house buildings, 10 personal houses, in addition to a lodge, workplace heart, automobile dealership, gasoline station and a shopping center within the capital.
RUSSIAN DRONE ATTACK ON PASSENGER TRAIN IS AN ‘ACT OF TERRORISM,’ ZELENSKYY SAYS
Firefighters work at a constructing broken in an in a single day strike by Russia in Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 16, 2026. Ukrainian officers stated Russia’s hourslong aerial assault hit Kyiv, Odesa, the Dnipro area and Zaporizhzhia, damaging houses and different civilian websites. (Genya SAVILOV / AFP through Getty Photos)
9 folks have been killed and 23 injured within the southern port metropolis of Odesa, three girls have been killed and round three dozen injured within the central Dnipro area, and one individual was killed in Zaporizhzhia within the south.
“Such assaults can’t be normalized. These are warfare crimes that have to be stopped and their perpetrators held to account,” Ukraine’s International Minister Andrii Sybiha stated on X.
Ukraine’s air pressure stated air defenses shot down or disabled 667 out of 703 incoming targets, together with 636 Shahed-type drones and different uncrewed aerial automobiles.
It stated 20 strike drones and 12 missiles hit 26 places.
In the meantime, in Russia, Krasnodar regional Gov. Veniamin Kondratyev reported {that a} 14-year-old woman and a girl have been killed in Ukrainian strikes within the Black Sea port of Tuapse.
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He stated that assaults broken six house buildings, 24 personal homes and three faculties. Drone fragments additionally fell close to the port of Tuapse.
Russia’s Protection Ministry stated that its air defenses downed 207 Ukrainian drones in a single day.
