Russian forces launched waves of Shahed-type attack drones against Ukraine overnight, followed by a cruise missile strike early Friday morning. Targets included Kyiv, the Dnipropetrovsk region, and Khmelnytskyi.
Air raid sirens sounded in Kyiv shortly before midnight. Around 1 a.m., Kyiv Post reporters across the city heard powerful explosions from air defense systems. The blasts continued for nearly four hours until around 5 a.m.
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Many of the Shahedsattack drones appeared to fly past Kyiv toward Ukraine’s western regions, particularly Khmelnytskyi. That region is home to the Starokostiantyniv air base, which has been central to Ukraine’s air operations.
The base previously hosted Ukraine’s 7th Tactical Aviation Brigade, operating aircraft such as Su-24M bombers. In September 2023, Ukrainian Su-24s launched from Starokostiantyniv reportedly carried out strikes using British Storm Shadow and French SCALP missiles, destroying a Russian navy assault ship, a missile submarine, and damaging the Black Sea Fleet headquarters in occupied Sevastopol.
Russian military analysts have long pointed to Starokostiantyniv as a key site for Ukraine’s incoming fleet of US-made F-16 fighter jets. As Ukraine begins receiving the advanced aircraft, Moscow appears determined to cripple the airfield and disrupt F-16 operations.
Around 3 a.m., Russian forces launched cruise missiles toward central Ukraine. According to the Nikolaevsky Vanek Telegram channel, missiles were spotted moving through the Kirovohrad region toward Dnipropetrovsk, with several missiles heading directly for the city of Dnipro.
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Local reports said Russia sent at least five cruise missiles toward Dnipro. Some missiles changed course and moved northwest toward Kyiv, passing through Bila Tserkva district.
By 4 a.m., monitoring channels reported more missiles heading toward Khmelnytskyi. Both cruise missiles and Shahed drones reportedly struck Starokostiantyniv shortly afterward.
Ukrainian officials have yet to provide full damage assessments from the overnight attacks.