Europe·25 April 2026
Russia executed a massive, multi-vector combined missile and drone attack across Ukraine, targeting cities from Kharkiv to Dnipro with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones. In a significant escalation, UK RAF Typhoons under NATO command engaged and shot down Russian drones over Ukraine, while drone debris caused damage in Romania. Ukraine launched a deep-strike raid into Russia, hitting Yekaterinburg in the Urals.
Major Russian Aerial Offensive Across Ukraine
Russia launched a massive, ongoing combined missile and drone attack across Ukraine, described as the most massive attack on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. The assault began around 3 a.m. and lasted for eight hours, involving waves of Geran-2 kamikaze drones and cruise missiles, including Kh-101s. Up to 17 groups of cruise missiles and up to 30 groups of Shahed drones were reported, targeting multiple cities and infrastructure. Ukrainian air defenses were active, with interceptions reported over several regions.
The attack was coordinated across multiple launch vectors. Russian strategic aviation launched cruise missiles from Tu-95MS bombers operating near the Caspian Sea. A separate wave of approximately 26 Kalibr cruise missiles was launched from the Caspian Sea, likely from Buyan-M class corvettes. Earlier, Geran-2 drones were launched from sites in Kursk and Oryol Oblasts, with an initial wave of decoys intended to exhaust Ukrainian defenses.
The strikes targeted a wide array of urban centers and infrastructure. Key targets included Dnipro, which was hit by Geran-2 drones, Iskander-M ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles, causing fires at an oil depot and an industrial facility. Kharkiv was struck by Iskander-M ballistic missiles. Bila Tserkva, southwest of Kyiv, was hit by cruise missiles, causing a large fire. Other impacted locations included Vinnytsia, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Kirovohrad, Cherkasy, Zaporizhzhia, Shostka, and Nizhyn. A Kalibr cruise missile impacted Cherkasy Oblast.
Ukrainian Deep-Strike Raid into Russia
Ukrainian forces launched a significant, coordinated drone and cruise missile offensive into Russian territory, including Crimea. The raid was notable for its distance, with 'Lyutyi' type UAVs reaching the Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk regions. Russia's Ministry of Defense reported its air defense units shot down 127 drones during the attack.
One Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle struck a residential building in Yekaterinburg, causing injuries. This marked one of the deepest strikes of the conflict into the Urals region. The raid also targeted a metallurgical plant in Chelyabinsk. Air defense activity was recorded in the Republic of Tatarstan, and UAVs were actively engaged over the Volgograd and Astrakhan regions.
This offensive follows a pattern of recent Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory. Building on reports from previous days, Ukrainian forces had previously conducted drone strikes on oil industry facilities in the Russian port city of Tuapse.
NATO Air Policing Engagement and Border Incidents
For the first time since the start of the Russian invasion, British Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons engaged and downed Russian one-way attack drones over Ukraine. The Typhoons, operating under NATO's enhanced Air Policing mission, intercepted the drones that were reportedly headed toward Romanian territory.
Separately, wreckage from a Russian drone crashed in the Romanian city of Galati, damaging a power line and an outbuilding. The country's Ministry of Defense reported there were no casualties, and the drone is believed to have gone off course following a Russian attack on Ukrainian facilities in the nearby Odesa region. These incidents highlight the spillover of the conflict into NATO airspace and territory.
Ground Conflict and Regional Strikes
Russian forces claimed to have liberated the village of Bochkovo in the Kharkiv region's Volchansk district. Assault units of the 126th Motorized Rifle Regiment are reportedly conducting operations in the area.
Russian drone attacks targeted Ukraine's Danube River ports, with a sustained wave striking the port areas of Reni and Izmail in Odesa Oblast. This continues a broader Russian campaign targeting Ukrainian export hubs. In the Kharkiv region, Russian drone and shelling attacks over the past 24 hours resulted in civilian casualties, including a fatality in Balakliya and injuries in Kupyansk, Bogodukhov, and Kharkiv city.
Inside Russia, authorities issued repeated UAV attack warnings for the Belgorod municipal district, instructing residents to stay at home and seek shelter, indicating continued drone activity near the Ukrainian border.
Political Context: EU Discord on Ukraine
A report revealed that the illusion of a united European front on Ukraine's EU accession has disappeared following the departure of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. EU leaders, meeting in Cyprus, faced the realization of persistent disagreements on the way forward. Officials noted that leaders who oppose Ukraine's accelerated membership can no longer hide behind Orban's previous veto, exposing underlying fractures. This comes despite a recent agreement on a loan and sanctions package for Ukraine.