Casualties, damage to critical infrastructure reported as Russia launches missiles, drones at various regions of Ukraine

Russian forces launched missile and drone attacks on several Ukrainian regions, including Kyiv and surrounding areas, overnight on Jan. 28, local authorities reported.

Explosions were heard in Ukraine’s capital around 1:26 a.m. local time, according to Kyiv Independent journalists on the ground. Local authorities reported that air defense systems were activated to intercept incoming Russian drones.

Russia launched one Iskander-M ballistic missile and 146 drones at Ukraine overnight, the Air Force said. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 103 drones. At least 36 drones and the missile made it through, striking 22 locations.

Kyiv Oblast Governor Mykola Kalashnyk reported that two people, a man and a woman, were killed in the Bilohorodka community, located on the outskirts of the capital. Several other people were also treated by paramedics but did not require hospitalization.

Drone debris was reported falling in the Holosiivskyi district, where the windows of a residential building were damaged and a fire broke out on the roof of a high-rise building.

Later in the night, the Air Force warned of missile approaching various cities including Kryvyi Rih and Mykolaiv. Drones were also seen approaching the city of Odesa.

Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the Kryvyi Rih Defense Council, said two civilians — a 51-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man — were injured in a ballistic missile strike on the city. Vilkul added that an infrastructure facility was struck, without providing details.

Russia has intensified its aerial campaign throughout the winter, targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure as millions of Ukrainians endure freezing temperatures. A series of recent Russian strikes have led to widespread power outages across the country, resulting in a major energy crisis.

Air raid alerts were previously lifted in most regions around 3:30 a.m. local time.

The attack follows two deadly strikes in Odesa and Kharkiv that caused numerous civilian casualties, killing at least eight people and injuring dozens more.