In the deadliest aerial assault of the year, Russia unleashed a massive missile barrage across Ukraine, killing at least 33 people and wounding over 150 others in a coordinated attack that targeted multiple cities simultaneously.
Massive Missile Barrage Hits Ukrainian Cities
The attack, which occurred on Saturday, November 22, 2025, represents the largest coordinated missile strike Russia has launched against Ukraine this entire year. Ukrainian officials reported that the assault involved dozens of missiles targeting civilian infrastructure and residential areas across the country.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the devastating toll, stating that at least 33 civilians were killed and more than 150 others sustained injuries during the hours-long bombardment. Rescue operations continued through the night as emergency workers searched for survivors trapped under rubble.
Kyiv Suffers Severe Damage in Coordinated Strike
The capital city of Kyiv bore the brunt of the attack, with multiple districts hit simultaneously. Several residential buildings were completely destroyed by direct missile impacts, leaving families homeless and creating scenes of devastation across the city.
Local authorities reported that emergency services worked tirelessly throughout the night, battling fires and extracting people from collapsed structures. The attack caused widespread power outages and damaged critical infrastructure, complicating rescue efforts.
Beyond Kyiv, the missile strikes targeted other major urban centers, though the capital experienced the most concentrated damage and highest casualty numbers from this particular assault.
Zelenskyy's Urgent Plea for Enhanced Air Defence
In response to the devastating attack, President Zelenskyy issued an urgent appeal to international partners for strengthened air defence systems. The Ukrainian leader emphasized that enhanced protective capabilities could have prevented many of the casualties.
"This tragedy shows how critical air defence systems are for saving civilian lives," Zelenskyy stated in his address to the nation. "We need these capabilities to protect our people from such brutal attacks."
The Ukrainian president's plea comes amid ongoing discussions with Western allies about military support packages. The scale of this latest attack has intensified calls for more advanced missile defence technology to be delivered to Ukrainian forces.
Military analysts noted that the coordinated nature of the strike suggests Russia has been planning this large-scale offensive for some time, accumulating missile stocks and coordinating targeting data across multiple launch platforms.
International Community Condemns Attack
World leaders have begun responding to the assault, with many Western nations condemning the attack on civilian infrastructure. The United Nations Security Council is expected to convene an emergency session to address the escalation in violence.
Humanitarian organizations have mobilized additional resources to assist affected communities, providing emergency shelter, medical supplies, and psychological support to survivors traumatized by the bombardment.
As Ukraine mourns its dead and tends to its wounded, the international community faces renewed pressure to respond to what many are calling one of the most severe violations of humanitarian law in the ongoing conflict.
