In the early hours of February 22, 2026, Russian forces launched a combined attack on Ukraine, prompting a significant response from the Ukrainian Air Force. Military officials reported that the assault involved 297 strike drones, including 200 Shahed drones, and 50 various types of missiles.
The Ukrainian military successfully intercepted and recorded hits from 14 missiles and 23 drones across 14 locations, with debris from downed drones scattered across five sites. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that the strikes targeted several regions, including Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Poltava, and Sumy.
According to Zelensky, the primary objective of the Russian attack was the energy infrastructure, resulting in damage to railways and residential buildings. Local authorities reported that energy infrastructure in Odesa and Mykolaiv was significantly impacted. In Kyiv, one person was killed and 15 others injured, including a woman and child in the suburbs. Dnipropetrovsk also reported two injuries.
Russian military forces have consistently targeted Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure using various weapons, including strike drones, missiles, and multiple rocket launch systems. These attacks have been characterized by Ukrainian authorities and international organizations as war crimes, emphasizing their deliberate nature.
Efforts to disrupt essential services such as electricity, heating, water supply, and medical assistance have been described as indicative of genocidal actions. The Russian government, however, denies targeting civilian infrastructure during the ongoing conflict, asserting that they do not intentionally harm civilians or destroy hospitals, schools, and energy facilities.
On February 22, 2026, Ukrainian forces repelled a significant Russian attack involving drones and missiles across multiple regions. The assault resulted in casualties and damage to energy infrastructure, prompting international condemnation of the attacks as war crimes.