Story perspectives

Russia fires 660 drones, NATO intercepts; Ukraine strikes back

4/25/2026

Center

Russia Launches Strike

Russia unleashed over 660 drones and missiles in a single night on 25 April 2026, the largest strike in weeks.
Ukrainian forces reported at least five dead and over 30 injured in Dnipro, with casualties in Chernihiv, Odesa and Kharkiv.
NATO scrambled fighter jets from Romania and Poland, neutralising drones before they entered Romanian airspace.
Ukrainian long-range drones hit Yekaterinburg and Chelyabinsk, causing minor injuries and evacuating dozens.

Left

Zelensky Urges Aid

President Volodymyr Zelensky urged European partners to immediately speed up air-defence aid after the attacks.
A Russian drone strike hit residential buildings in Odesa’s port area, killing a 75-year-old married couple.
The attacks damaged homes, cut power to six settlements, and ignited a Panama-flagged vessel.
EU approved a sanctions package and €90 billion loan to fund two-thirds of Ukraine’s 2026-27 needs.

History

Historical Context

During the August 2008 Russo-Georgian war Russia bombed Tbilisi (9–12 August) and Gori, while NATO allies, fresh from the US-Georgian “Immediate Response” drills, coordinated air-defence for neighboring states. A similar pattern emerged in 2024 when Russia launched a massive drone barrage against Ukrainian cities, prompting Romanian and Polish fighter jets to intercept, underscoring lingering post-Cold-War tensions.

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Russia Launches Strike

Russia unleashed over 660 drones and missiles in a single night on 25 April 2026, the largest strike in weeks.
Ukrainian forces reported at least five dead and over 30 injured in Dnipro, with casualties in Chernihiv, Odesa and Kharkiv.
NATO scrambled fighter jets from Romania and Poland, neutralising drones before they entered Romanian airspace.
Ukrainian long-range drones hit Yekaterinburg and Chelyabinsk, causing minor injuries and evacuating dozens.

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