Ukraine and Russia exchange massive drone and missile strikes

Ukraine launched a massive aerial operation involving hundreds of long-range drones targeting 17 regions across Russia. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported intercepting or neutralizing 822 Ukrainian drones during the strikes. The attacks resulted in fatalities in several areas, including Rostov and Belgorod, and struck a major logistics warehouse belonging to the Russian online retailer Wildberries near Moscow.

In response, Russian forces targeted Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The strike hit Ukraine’s largest ArcelorMittal steel plant, causing significant damage to power systems and blast furnace operations. The attack resulted in at least two deaths and several injuries, forcing a partial halt in production. The escalation highlights the increasing intensity of reciprocal strikes on critical industrial and logistics infrastructure.