On August 26, 2024, Russia launched a massive combined attack on Ukraine, employing over 100 rockets and around 100 drones, primarily targeting energy infrastructure across 15 regions. The assault, which began around midnight and continued into the morning, resulted in at least five confirmed deaths and dozens of injuries. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated that the attacks used various types of weapons, including cruise missiles, drones, and Kinzhal hypersonic missiles.The attack led to widespread power outages and disruptions to water supplies across the country, including in major cities like Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odessa. A significant target was the Kiev Hydroelectric Power Plant, where the passing lane of the dam and the machine hall were damaged. Ukrainian energy companies implemented emergency power cuts in response to the extensive damage.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the assault as ‘one of the largest combined attacks’ on Ukraine, emphasizing that it primarily targeted critical civilian infrastructure. In response to the attack, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba has requested Western allies to allow Ukraine to use long-range weapons to attack targets within Russian territory.Simultaneously, Ukraine launched drone attacks on several Russian regions. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported intercepting 22 Ukrainian drones over eight regions, including Saratov and Yaroslavl in central Russia. In Saratov, debris from downed drones damaged residential buildings, injuring four people.This escalation marks one of the most severe air raids in the ongoing conflict, raising concerns about further intensification of hostilities. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, with neighboring countries like Poland raising air alerts and mobilizing air defenses in response to the increased military activity.
Key points
- Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine, using over 100 rockets and 100 drones, primarily targeting energy infrastructure.
- At least five people were killed and dozens injured in the attack, which affected 15 Ukrainian regions.
- Ukraine responded with drone attacks on Russian territory, and is seeking permission to use long-range weapons against targets in Russia.
- The attack has led to widespread power outages and water supply disruptions across Ukraine.
Contradictions👾There are slight discrepancies in the reported death toll, with some sources citing three deaths and others reporting five.
👾While most sources agree on the scale of the attack, there are variations in the exact number of missiles and drones used, ranging from ‘over 100’ to specific counts of rockets and drones.
