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 starting March 23, Russia deployed nearly 1,000 drones in a significant assault on Ukraine, marking one of the most intense aerial campaigns since the full-scale invasion began. The attack unfolded in two phases—first with a heavy missile and drone barrage during the night, then with over 550 attack drones striking central and western regions early Tuesday. Regional officials confirmed at least three fatalities and more than 30 injuries across Ukraine, with the overnight wave causing four deaths and 21 wounds.

Western Ukraine’s Lviv bore the brunt of the daylight strikes, as Russian drones targeted civilian areas near the Polish border. At least 17 people were injured in the city, including a 6-year-old child. Lviv’s regional governor, Maksym Kozytskyi, reported damage to the Bernardine Monastery complex, a national architectural treasure in the UNESCO-listed historic center. “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,” said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an evening address.

Other western cities like Ivano-Frankivsk also faced attacks, with two casualties in the city center and four additional injuries. Damage extended to maternity hospitals and ten residential buildings. Explosions were also reported in Khmelnytskyi, Ternopil, Vinnytsia, and Zhytomyr, where a 12-year-old girl sustained injuries and was hospitalized. Kyiv and surrounding areas were targeted as well, with Ukrainian Air Force tracking drones flying northward toward the capital.

“The scale of this attack makes it abundantly clear that Russia has no intention of actually ending the war,” noted Ukraine’s Defence Ministry advisor Serhii Flash. “Moscow is constantly adjusting its tactics to find vulnerabilities and breach Ukraine’s air defenses.”

Zelenskyy emphasized that the assault highlights Russia’s strategy of sustained pressure, warning that without significant losses, Moscow will continue its offensive stance. “When you consider that Russia is also aiding the Iranian regime in regional strikes, the conclusion is obvious: peace will remain elusive unless there’s stronger resistance and clear Russian setbacks,” he added.