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

Between March 23 and 24, Russia unleashed nearly 1,000 drones on Ukraine in a 24-hour span, marking one of Moscow’s most significant air campaigns since the start of the full-scale invasion. The assault included both a heavy overnight barrage and a surprising daytime wave of over 550 attack drones targeting central and western regions.

Regional authorities reported at least three fatalities and more than 30 injuries during the daylight attack. In Western Ukraine, Lviv was hit by Russian drones, resulting in 17 wounded. The Bernardine Monastery complex, a national architectural landmark located in the city’s historic center—a UNESCO World Heritage site—suffered damage in the strike.

“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 his evening address.

Other strikes targeted critical infrastructure and residential areas across multiple districts. In Ivano-Frankivsk, another regional capital, two people were killed and four injured, including a six-year-old child, according to local officials. Maternity hospitals and approximately 10 buildings were also damaged. Explosions were reported in Khmelnytskyi, Ternopil, Vinnytsia, and Zhytomyr.

A 12-year-old girl was hospitalized after being injured in a drone strike on central Zhytomyr. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Air Force tracked drones flying toward Kyiv from the north during the daytime assault. Serhii Flash, a Defence Ministry advisor, noted that Russia is persistently adjusting its tactics to exploit weaknesses and challenge Ukraine’s air defenses.

“The scale of this attack makes it abundantly clear that Russia has no intention of actually ending the war,” Zelenskyy added. “When you consider that Russia is also aiding the Iranian regime in striking across the region, the conclusion is quite obvious: without additional and strong pressure on Moscow, and without tangible losses, those in power will remain unwilling to embrace peace.”