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
In a span of 24 hours from March 23 to 24, Russia deployed nearly 1,000 drones in an intense strike on Ukraine, marking one of Moscow’s most significant aerial campaigns since the full-scale invasion began. The attack spanned both night and day, with over 550 drones launched during Tuesday targeting central and western regions.
Regional officials confirmed at least three fatalities and more than 30 injuries across Ukraine during the daylight assault. The night prior had seen a barrage of missiles and drones, resulting in four deaths and 21 wounded. Lviv, a western city near the Polish border, suffered damage when Russian drones struck civilian zones, leaving 17 people injured.
Historic Site Damaged in Lviv
Lviv’s regional governor, Maksym Kozytskyi, noted that the Bernardine Monastery complex—a nationally significant architectural site—was compromised in the strike. The monastery, located in Lviv’s UNESCO-listed historic centre, drew particular attention from Ukrainian officials.
“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.” — Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Meanwhile, Moscow’s strikes extended to other western districts, with critical infrastructure hit in Ivano-Frankivsk, another regional capital. Two individuals were killed in the city’s core, including a 6-year-old child, while four others sustained injuries. Damage was also reported at maternity hospitals and approximately ten residential buildings.
Explosions echoed in Khmelnytskyi and Ternopil, as well as in central Ukraine’s Vinnytsia and Zhytomyr. A 12-year-old girl in Zhytomyr was hospitalized after being injured by a drone strike. Kyiv and surrounding areas faced attacks, with Ukraine’s Air Force detecting drones approaching the capital from the north.
“Russia is constantly adjusting its tactics for large-scale strikes, aiming to identify weaknesses and breach Ukraine’s air defenses.” — Serhii Flash, Ukraine’s Defence Ministry advisor
Zelenskyy emphasized the attack’s scale, stating it “abundantly clear that Russia has no intention of actually ending this war.” He added that Moscow’s support for the Iranian regime in regional strikes underscores a pattern of relentless aggression. “Without additional and strong pressure on Russia, without tangible Russian losses, those in Moscow will have no desire to step back from the war or to get used to peace again,” he concluded.