Russia-Ukraine, escalating air offensives in 2026: 11 killed and extensive damage

Russia and Ukraine have exchanged the most powerful attacks recorded so far in 2026. At least five people were killed in the Russian strikes and Ukraine’s largest steel plant was damaged, while Russian officials reported that Ukrainian drone attacks caused at least six deaths.

The strike on the steel plant left two people dead and injured 14 others, according to Ukrainian authorities. The company said the damage affected key production structures, including the power supply sectors and blast furnaces, resulting in partial interruptions to operations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, “Wherever the Russians can reach with their ballistic missiles, they strike civilian infrastructure.” Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry said the targets of the attacks in Kyiv were a company that produces parts for Ukrainian Flamingo missiles and a factory that manufactures components for drones.

According to Ukrainian officials, the Russian attacks caused several fires in Kyiv, including at the Petrovka book market, while six people were injured. In other parts of the country, one person was killed in Sumy and two others in the Zaporizhzhia region.

Ukraine, meanwhile, carried out one of its largest drone attacks since the start of the war against Russia, using around 1,000 unmanned aerial vehicles. Ukraine’s Defense Ministry announced that the strikes put several large Russian facilities used to supply the army out of operation. The Ukrainian military also said it had struck a facility in the Rostov region where fuel for missiles is produced.