KYIV, Ukraine — March 22, 2026 — Ukrainian officials say Russia launched one of its largest overnight drone attacks in weeks, sending more than 150 unmanned aircraft across multiple regions and killing a couple in their home in the central part of the country.
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that 154 Shahed‑type drones were fired from several directions, describing the assault as “massive and prolonged.” According to the military, most of the drones were intercepted, but several broke through air defenses and struck residential areas.
Local authorities in the Kirovohrad region said a married couple died when their home was hit shortly after midnight. Their two children, both under the age of 12, were pulled from the rubble with injuries and taken to a nearby hospital. Officials said the children were in stable condition but did not release their names for privacy reasons.
Regional governor Andriy Raikovych said emergency crews worked through the night to extinguish fires and search damaged buildings. “This was a deliberate attack on civilian infrastructure,” he said, adding that investigators were assessing the extent of the destruction.
The Ukrainian Air Force said the drones were launched from Russian‑controlled territory and from the occupied Crimean Peninsula. The military added that air‑defense units shot down the majority of incoming aircraft, but the sheer number of drones made complete interception difficult.
Russia has not commented on the specific strikes, though it has repeatedly claimed that its attacks target military facilities. Ukrainian officials dispute that assertion, noting that residential neighborhoods, energy sites, and civilian infrastructure have been hit repeatedly throughout the war.
The overnight barrage also caused power outages in several regions, including Odesa and Vinnytsia, where energy companies reported damage to distribution lines. Engineers were working Saturday morning to restore electricity.
The attack comes amid heightened tensions along the front line, where Ukrainian forces say they are facing increased pressure from Russian troops and intensified aerial assaults. Analysts note that Russia has relied heavily on Iranian‑designed Shahed drones to exhaust Ukrainian air defenses and disrupt daily life far from the battlefield.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the strikes in a brief statement, calling them “another reminder of why stronger air‑defense support is essential.” He urged international partners to accelerate deliveries of promised systems and ammunition.
The United Nations has repeatedly warned that attacks on civilian areas violate international humanitarian law. A spokesperson for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said the agency was gathering information about the latest incident.
As rescue workers continued clearing debris in the affected towns, local residents described a night of fear and confusion. “The sky was buzzing for hours,” said Olena, a neighbor who asked to be identified only by her first name. “We heard explosions in the distance, and then suddenly one was very close.”
Authorities said psychological support teams were being deployed to assist families affected by the strikes.
The investigation into the attack is ongoing.
