Almost 1,000 drones within 24 hours: Russia launched one of its largest attacks on Ukraine

Almost 1,000 drones within 24 hours: Russia launched one of its largest attacks on Ukraine

On March 23-24, Russia conducted a major strike on Ukraine, deploying nearly 1,000 drones in a single day. This operation marked one of the most significant aerial campaigns in Moscow’s ongoing conflict since the full-scale invasion began. The attack escalated with a heavy barrage of missiles and drones during the night, followed by a daytime assault involving over 550 attack drones aimed at central and western regions.

Regional authorities confirmed at least three fatalities and more than 30 injuries during the daylight phase of the attack. In Lviv, a western city near the Polish border, civilian areas were hit, leaving 17 people wounded. The Bernardine Monastery complex, a national heritage site located in Lviv’s historic center—a UNESCO World Heritage area—suffered damage. In his evening address, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted the symbolic nature of the attack, emphasizing the impact on cultural landmarks.

“Iranian ‘Shahed’ drones, modernised by Russia, are striking a church in Lviv – this is an absolute perversion, and only someone like Putin could find this appealing.”

Meanwhile, strikes extended to other parts of the country, including Ivano-Frankivsk, another regional capital in western Ukraine. Two individuals lost their lives in the city center, with four others injured, including a young child. Damage was also reported to maternity hospitals and ten residential buildings. Explosions were recorded in Khmelnytskyi, Ternopil, Vinnytsia, and Zhytomyr, with a 12-year-old girl hospitalized after being wounded in central Zhytomyr.

Ukraine’s Air Force reported drones heading toward Kyiv from the north during the daytime assault. Serhii Flash, a Defence Ministry advisor, noted that Russia is adapting its tactics to identify weaknesses in Ukraine’s air defenses. Zelenskyy’s remarks underscored the broader implications, stating, “The scale of this attack makes it abundantly clear that Russia has no intention of actually ending the war.” He added, “When you consider that Russia is also aiding the Iranian regime in targeting the region, the conclusion is quite obvious: without additional and strong pressure on Moscow, and without visible losses, the war will not be ended.”