On a night when fear lit up the skies over Ukraine, the war entered one of its most violent phases yet. Russia launched what Ukrainian officials are calling the largest aerial attack since the invasion began, unleashing a torrent of drones and missiles across multiple cities. At least 12 civilians, including three children, were killed in the northern region of Zhytomyr.
From the eastern frontlines of Kharkiv to the southern port city of Mykolaiv, and as far west as Ternopil, no region was spared. In the capital city Kyiv, residents scrambled for cover as sirens blared and drones exploded mid-air, lighting up the sky in fiery bursts. Underground metro stations became makeshift bunkers once again, grim reminders of a war that refuses to fade.
The scale of the assault, in terms of weapons deployed, was unmatched. While other strikes have caused more casualties, this one stood out for its geographic spread and relentless intensity. Across the bombarded zones, the scenes told stories of homes reduced to rubble, cars shredded by shrapnel, and people clinging to what little they had left.
In Markhalivka, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Tetiana Maksymenko stood silently, clutching what remained of her belongings outside a cratered home. A firefighter doused flames from a collapsed rooftop, while a nearby investigator picked through the ruins of an apartment complex hit by a drone.
This is not the first night Ukraine has burned. And tragically, it may not be the last. But this night, captured through haunting images, shows the defiant strength of a nation that continues to absorb shock after shock.
