Russia Launches Massive Drone Assault on Ukraine Overnight, Dozens Injured in Dnipro
In the early hours of April 9, Russian forces carried out a large-scale drone attack across Ukraine, launching a total of 55 unmanned aerial vehicles, including Iranian-made Shahed strike drones and decoy drones. According to Ukraine’s Air Force, the attack was launched from multiple directions—specifically from Russian regions of Kursk, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, and Russian-occupied Crimea.
Ukraine’s defense responded with layered countermeasures, including fighter aircraft, air defense systems, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire teams. Out of the 55 drones, 32 strike drones were successfully shot down over the northern and eastern regions of Ukraine. Additionally, eight decoy drones failed to reach their intended targets.
The city of Dnipro bore the brunt of the assault. Fifteen civilians were injured in the attack, eight of whom required hospitalization. The drone strikes damaged private homes, apartment buildings, around 20 vehicles, several businesses, and critical infrastructure. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, a drone hit a private facility in the town of Apostolove, while a sports complex was damaged in Nikopol. No fatalities were reported in these incidents.
In Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine, three districts were hit. Fires broke out at six different locations, engulfing over 1,200 square meters and destroying warehouses, manufacturing buildings, and an auto service center. Two people were injured.
In Kramatorsk, located in the Donetsk region, a drone strike destroyed a residential apartment. Three people were injured, including an 11-year-old girl. Emergency responders were able to contain the fires at the scene.
Recovery and cleanup operations are currently underway as Ukrainian authorities assess the full extent of the damage and continue to investigate the specifics of the attack.
