Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has condemned what he described as a "wicked" and deliberately calculated overnight assault by Russian forces, which saw hundreds of drones and missiles target civilian areas across Ukraine.
Massive Overnight Assault
Russian forces launched an extensive attack involving 430 drones and 18 missiles in the early hours of Friday, 14th November 2025. President Zelenskyy stated the assault was "deliberately calculated" and specifically "aimed at causing maximum harm to people and civilian infrastructure."
The attack resulted in significant casualties, with at least four people confirmed dead and dozens more wounded, including children. The scale of the assault overwhelmed local emergency services as they responded to multiple incidents across affected regions.
Capital City Devastation
Kyiv bore the brunt of the offensive, with the head of the city's military administration, Tymur Tkachenko, reporting that the attack hit "almost every district" of the Ukrainian capital. Residential neighbourhoods suffered extensive damage, with numerous apartments destroyed and fires breaking out across the city.
Photographs from the scene showed devastated apartment buildings with entire sections reduced to rubble, while emergency workers scrambled to rescue survivors from damaged structures. Civilians were forced to seek shelter in metro stations as the attack continued through the night.
International Response Demanded
In his response to the attack, President Zelenskyy reiterated his call for stronger international action, stating that "the world must stop these attacks … with sanctions." He specifically highlighted that "Russia is still able to sell oil and build its schemes" despite existing measures.
The Ukrainian leader emphasised the urgent need for enhanced air defence capabilities, noting that "a great deal of work is under way with partners to strengthen our air defence, but it is not enough." He called specifically for reinforcement "with additional systems and interceptor missiles" from both the European Union and United States.
As rescue operations continue and the full extent of the damage becomes clear, international observers are watching closely for responses from Western allies regarding both immediate humanitarian assistance and longer-term defensive support for Ukraine.
