Russia heavily strikes Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava: Casualties, fires, and destruction reported
Photo: Russia struck residential areas and infrastructure (t.me/ivan_fedorov_zp)
On the night of March 24, Russia launched a combined attack on Ukraine with drones and various types of missiles. Several cities came under Russian Shahed and ballistic missile attacks; buildings were on fire, and there were casualties and injuries.
Key takeaways
- Russia launched a combined attack with Shahed drones, ballistic missiles, and missiles fired from Tu-95MS bombers.
- Kyiv: Air defense systems were active; explosions were heard in the city and suburbs.
- Zaporizhzhia: Struck by 6 drones and 5 missiles. 20 high-rise buildings, private homes, and gas stations were damaged. 1 killed, 9 injured.
- Poltava: A hotel and residential buildings were destroyed. Large-scale fires, train delays. 2 dead, 11 wounded (including a child).
- Kharkiv region: A Russian drone struck a commuter train car. A 61-year-old passenger was killed.
- Kherson: The city center was shelled with MLRS. Private homes and a garage were destroyed. 1 person was killed, 2 were injured.
- Dnipropetrovsk region: Over 20 artillery and drone attacks. 18 drones were shot down.
- Explosions were heard in the Sumy and Ivano-Frankivsk regions.
What Russians attacked with
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russian forces launched 34 missiles and 392 drones at Ukraine.
In total, out of 426 aerial attack vehicles, air defense forces shot down or neutralized 390 targets—25 missiles and 365 drones, specifically:
- 0 out of 7 Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missiles;
- 18 out of 18 Kh-101 cruise missiles;
- 5 out of 5 Iskander-K cruise missiles;
- 2 out of 4 Kh-59/69 guided air-to-ground missiles;
- 392 out of 365 drones of various types.
There were hits by 6 missiles and 27 strike drones at 22 locations, as well as the fall of downed (wreckage) drones at 10 locations.
Kyiv
All night long, drones terrorized the peaceful cities of Ukraine. As morning approached, Russia launched Tu-95MS strategic bombers into the sky, from which cruise missiles were fired. They entered Ukrainian airspace from several directions and moved toward the western regions and Kyiv.
Explosions were heard in the capital, while air defense forces were active in the suburbs.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko warned that Russian drones had been spotted over the city, particularly in the Vydubychi district, and urged residents to remain in shelters.
Zaporizhzhia
Around 2:30 a.m. Kyiv time, Russia launched a massive attack on Zaporizhzhia: first, it launched 6 strike drones, followed by 5 ballistic missiles. Residential neighborhoods and infrastructure facilities came under Russian fire. Buildings were ablaze.
In total, 20 high-rise buildings, 6 private homes, a store, non-residential buildings, and businesses were damaged.
Photo: A burning high-rise in Zaporizhzhia, where a man was killed (facebook.com/DSNS.GOV.UA)
One of the buildings is next to one that was previously destroyed and recently rebuilt. People had just returned to their apartments.
A gas station also caught fire in the city.
As a result of the Russian attack, one person was killed, and nine were injured in the city.
Poltava
In Poltava and the surrounding area, homes, a hotel, and businesses were damaged by the Russian attack. The strikes sparked fires, which have already been extinguished by rescue workers.
As of 3:40 a.m., two people had been killed, and seven others were injured; they are receiving medical care.
Photo: Burning buildings and a damaged hotel in the Poltava region (facebook.com/DSNS.GOV.UA)
By 4 a.m., the number of injured had risen to 11. Among the victims is one child.
Traffic in the city is partially restricted. Ukrainian Railways reported delays for many trains.
Kharkiv
In Kharkiv, a Russian drone struck the Slobidskyi district, in an open area, causing no damage.
In the morning, the Russians attacked the railway in the Kharkiv region. A drone struck the Slatyne–Kharkiv commuter train while it was stopped at the station.
Photo: Russia attacked a commuter train in the Kharkiv region (facebook.com/DSNS.GOV.UA)
The drone struck the last car. A 61-year-old passenger was killed instantly as a result of the Russian strike.
The train driver and his assistant suffered acute stress reactions.
Kherson
In the morning, Russians shelled the center of Kherson with multiple launch rocket systems.
At least two private homes and a garage were destroyed by the Russian strike. Many other homes in the area were damaged.
A man died under the rubble of one of the buildings; his identity is still being determined.
Photo: A man was killed under the rubble of a house in Kherson (facebook.com/DSNS.GOV.UA)
Two other people were also injured—a 64-year-old woman and a 65-year-old man. They suffered injuries from the explosion and concussions.
Dnipropetrovsk region
One person was wounded in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Russia attacked two districts of the region more than 20 times with drones and artillery.
18 Russian drones were destroyed overnight over various districts of the region.
Poland deployed its air force
Explosions were also heard in western Ukraine. Amid a massive Russian attack, Poland deployed its own and allied aircraft and put its air defense systems on high alert. This was reported by the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces.
