Russia Launches Massive Missile and Drone Strikes on Ukraine
Russia launched 297 drones and 50 missiles, killing civilians and hitting energy infrastructure as Hungary and Slovakia threaten to block EU sanctions over oil transit.
Overview
Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 297 drones and 50 missiles in an overnight barrage.
Ukraine’s Emergency Service said the strikes killed one person in the Kyiv region and prompted the rescue of eight people, including a child, from rubble.
Ukrainian officials said a blast in Lviv killed a 23-year-old police officer, injured 25 people and led to at least one arrest as authorities treat it as an act of terrorism.
Hungary and Slovakia have demanded resumption of oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline and threatened to block EU sanctions or cut emergency power to Ukraine, officials said, while EU foreign ministers will meet in Brussels on Monday.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged allies to strengthen Ukraine’s air defences, and EU ministers hope to approve the bloc’s 20th sanctions package to coincide with Tuesday’s fourth anniversary of the invasion.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources report factually and with attribution, leaning on official statements (Ukraine’s Emergency Service, Air Force, Russia’s Defense Ministry, local leaders). They provide casualty counts, infrastructure damage and geopolitical context (four-year war, U.S.-led peace efforts) while avoiding emotive editorializing, relying on sourced claims and specific figures to maintain neutrality.
Sources (8)
FAQ
February 24th marks the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in 2022[1][4]. The timing of these intensified attacks just two days before this anniversary appears deliberately coordinated, as Russia has been escalating its assault amid freezing winter temperatures to maximize the impact on Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure[4].
Hungary and Slovakia have demanded the resumption of oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline and threatened to block EU sanctions or cut emergency power to Ukraine over this issue[5]. The Druzhba pipeline is a major oil transit route, and these countries are leveraging energy dependencies to pressure EU policy on sanctions against Russia during the critical moment of discussions around the bloc's 20th sanctions package[5].
Ukraine's Air Force reported intercepting the majority of the 297 drones and over half of the 50 ballistic missiles launched in the overnight barrage[4]. According to one source, Ukraine shot down or neutralized 274 drones and 33 missiles out of the total attack, though 14 missiles and 23 drones still struck 14 locations, with three missiles unaccounted for[2]. While Ukraine's defenses are operational, some weapons continue to penetrate and cause damage.
Russia is deliberately targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure, causing widespread power outages amid sub-zero temperatures around minus 10 degrees Celsius[1]. The attacks also target rail infrastructure, residential buildings, and civilian facilities—including a US-owned Mondelez food production plant, which Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko characterized as a deliberate message rather than incidental damage[2]. Additionally, Russia has targeted ambulances and other civilian infrastructure, as seen in the Sumy region attack that killed four people[1].
Pope Francis issued an urgent plea for peace, stating that ending the war in Ukraine 'cannot be postponed' and is an 'urgent necessity,' as the United States attempts to broker an accord between Moscow and Kyiv[2]. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged allies to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses[5], while EU foreign ministers are scheduled to meet in Brussels on Monday to discuss approving the bloc's 20th sanctions package, timed to coincide with Tuesday's invasion anniversary[5].
History
5 sources