Russia's Devastating Drone Assault: 948 Drones Target Ukraine in 24 Hours

Wed Mar 25 2026 07:08:29 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

In an unprecedented escalation, Russia has launched the largest aerial barrage against Ukraine, firing 948 drones within a single day, resulting in casualties and significant damage.

Russia has unleashed its most extensive aerial assault on Ukraine, deploying 948 drones over a continuous 24-hour period. The attacks have resulted in the deaths of at least five individuals and have left dozens injured. Notable incidents include damage to Lviv's UNESCO-listed Bernardine monastery and a maternity hospital in Ivano-Frankivsk. Ukrainian officials have condemned the surge in attacks, stating that it highlights Russia's unwavering military aggression. President Zelensky has reiterated the need for resilience in the face of ongoing threats.

Russia has launched the largest aerial attack on Ukraine over a 24-hour period since the war began, hitting cities across the country with 948 drones.

Ukraine's Air Force said 556 drones had been fired since 09:00 local time (07:00 GMT) on Tuesday, in an unusual daytime attack which killed at least three people and injured dozens.

In the western city of Lviv, the 16th century Bernardine monastery - part of a Unesco World Heritage site in the city centre - was damaged, local officials said.

In the neighbouring Ivano-Frankivsk region, a maternity hospital was hit.

Those strikes came after an overnight Russian attack left five people dead. Ukraine said 392 drones and 34 missiles were fired.

In his video address on Tuesday evening, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the scale of the latest attacks clearly shows that Russia has no intention of really ending this war.

Russia's military has not publicly commented on the attacks.

A video posted earlier on Tuesday by Lviv authorities showed a fire burning through the roof of a residential building near the Bernardine monastery. Separate footage posted on social media showed a drone flying lower over the city and hitting the residential building.

Yurii Ihnat, spokesman of the Ukrainian Air Force, noted that the geography of the strikes during the daytime was broader than at night, indicating this assault was one of the largest in terms of scale within a single day.

While many regions have been hit over the course of the conflict, the western areas of Ukraine have experienced relatively less intensity than the eastern regions closer to the Russian border.

The ongoing war, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, shows no signs of abating, with both sides sustaining constant military actions.