Russia unleashing rolling aerial attack on Ukraine, Kyiv says

Since Thursday evening, Russia has been executing a continuous aerial assault on Ukraine, according to Ukraine’s air force. On Friday, they reported a significant presence of enemy drones in Ukrainian skies.

This marks the second instance this week where Russia has paired overnight drone strikes with intense daytime attacks, as Moscow experiments with novel strategies to breach Ukraine’s air defense systems.

“The adversary is employing new routes, constantly upgrading their drones, and implementing new tactics,” stated Yurii Ihnat, an air force spokesperson, during a broadcast on state television.


A building on fire with emergency vehicles on the street below at night in Kharkiv, Ukraine.
A building burns after being hit by a Russian drone strike, in central Kharkiv, Ukraine, April 2, 2026 REUTERS

Firefighters on a ladder truck work to extinguish a fire in a building hit by a Russian drone strike in Kharkiv, Ukraine.
Firefighters work to extinguish a fire in a building hit by a Russian drone strike in Kharkiv, April 2, 2026. REUTERS

He noted that over the past 24 hours, Russia has deployed more than 400 long-range drones, along with ten ballistic missiles, primarily targeting regions close to the frontline.

Ihnat pointed out that this bombardment mirrors an earlier attack on Tuesday, which resulted in at least four fatalities. On that occasion, a night-time barrage of over 300 drones was followed by a similar wave in the daytime.

The extensive Russian bombardments disrupt life across Ukraine, causing numerous government offices, public transportation services, and businesses to shut down during the prolonged attacks.

“The enemy is exerting (pressure) on our population, paralysing the work of ​certain public institutions, as well as learning institutions,” Ihnat ​said.

⁠In the eastern region of Kharkiv, one person was killed and 25 others injured by missile, bomb and drone attacks over the past 24 hours, ⁠governor ​Oleh Synehubov said on social media.

That ​included four ballistic missiles that struck the regional capital, also called Kharkiv, overnight. Authorities only reported ​one injury from that strike.

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