Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reported that five people have died and tens of thousands have been left without power after a brutal wave of Russian missile and drone strikes across the country. The attacks predominantly targeted the western region of Lviv, where four members of a single family, including a 15-year-old girl, were killed in Lapaivka.

In addition, one person died in Zaporizhzhia as the barrage of assaults saw Russia firing over 50 missiles and around 500 drones. Ukraine's air force pegged the total at 549, confirming the scale of the assault.

Russia’s defense ministry labeled the strikes a massive success aimed at military and infrastructure sites in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukraine scrambled to respond to the situation as enhanced protective measures were put in place by neighboring Poland, which deployed fighter jets to secure its airspace.

The suffering in Lviv continued for several hours during the strikes, with public transport services suspended and electricity supplies cut off. Regional authorities highlighted this as the most extensive attack on Lviv since the initiation of the full-scale invasion in 2022. Zelensky described the assaults as particularly sinister, coming at a time when Ukrainians are preparing to heat their homes for the winter.

Moreover, emergency outages were implemented as Ukraine faced yet another wave of coordinated strikes, which also impacted Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Odesa. Zelensky called for strengthened air defense efforts to curtail the ongoing aerial assaults, emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced protections.

These recent attacks highlight the continued threat posed by Russian forces, even as Ukraine adapts its military strategies and seeks deeper support from international allies.