Ukraine Endures Overnight Assault: Plea for Western Aid Amplifies

Russia escalated its military campaign against Ukraine with an intense overnight assault involving hundreds of drones and missiles, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The offensive resulted in three deaths and injured dozens more, targeting infrastructure, manufacturing sites, and residential areas across the embattled nation.

In Dnipro, a missile reportedly struck a residential apartment building, killing one person and injuring at least 26 others. Local officials shared imagery of the devastation, which included a destroyed roof, shattered windows, and emergency responders aiding victims. The Chernihiv and Khmelnytskyi regions also reported fatalities as air alerts stretched up to 11 hours in parts of the country.

Zelenskiy appealed to Western allies, urging the provision of more air defense systems and strengthened sanctions on Russia. He hailed Ukraine's resilience but underscored the need for collective action to ensure effective defense. Polish and allied aircraft were mobilized to safeguard Polish airspace near the Ukrainian border as Russian forces shifted tactics to more overwhelming aerial bombardments.

(With inputs from agencies.)