Marta Gichko06:33, 26.02.26

Several Ukrainian cities were targeted in Russia’s combined nighttime attack. The number of casualties is being determined.

On the night of Thursday, February 26, Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine with strike drones and missiles . A number of regions were hit, and there were casualties and destruction.

According to the Air Force , a large-scale air alert was declared in Ukraine at around 03:00. The movement of strike UAVs was observed over several regions, and after some time the Air Force announced the danger of the use of ballistic weapons and the movement of high-speed targets.

Kryvyi Rih

In particular, a five-story building in Kryvyi Rih was damaged as a result of the Russian attack, and one person was injured, said Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the Kryvyi Rih Defense Council.

“Kryvyi Rih. A “shaheed” hit a five-story building. So far, one person has been injured, lightly. The structure has been visually damaged, many windows have been broken,” he noted.

It is reported that a relief headquarters has been deployed near the damaged house. Construction materials are expected to be delivered.

Kyiv

In addition, powerful explosions thundered in Kyiv. As noted by  the head of the Kyiv MVA, Timur Tkachenko, fires broke out in two districts of Kyiv due to a nighttime combined attack by the enemy.

According to him, in the Holosiivskyi district, a fire broke out on the territory of a private estate. In the Pecherskyi district, a 2-story private house is on fire. Information about the victims is being clarified.

Tkachenko added that in the Darnytskyi district, the Russians damaged a 9-story residential building. Fortunately, there were no casualties.

Zaporizhzhia

Zaporizhzhia was also targeted by the massive Russian attack. The head of the Zaporizhzhia OVA, Ivan Fedorov, said that a private house, a high-rise building, and two shopping centers were damaged as a result of enemy strikes.

A private house was damaged as a result of the enemy attack. The consequences in other areas where the explosions occurred are being assessed.

In addition, damage was also recorded to a high-rise building. A car is on fire.

The Russians also attacked infrastructure facilities. Two shopping malls were damaged in Zaporizhia.

Several floors of a damaged high-rise building are also on fire. A person is trapped in one of the apartments. Seven people have already been injured in the city.

Updated at 6:58 a.m. Fedorov clarified that 19 apartment buildings, four private sector buildings, and non-residential buildings were damaged as a result of the enemy attack.

There is no heat supply in more than 500 houses in three districts of the city. Municipal workers have begun liquidation work – they are covering windows with OSB sheets in apartment buildings. 

The head of the OVA also noted that one person was killed and eight more people were injured as a result of enemy attacks in Zaporizhia and Polohivskyi district.

Kharkiv

A series of loud explosions were heard in Kharkiv at night. The city and its surroundings were subjected to a combined attack by the Russian Federation. A high-rise building was hit, a gas pipeline was cut, a fire broke out, and there were casualties, reported the city mayor Igor Terekhov  and the head of the Kharkiv OVA, Oleg Synegubov

“There is information about a direct hit on a residential high-rise building in the Shevchenkivskyi district. Information about the victims is currently being clarified,” Terekhov noted.

It is also reported that two ballistic missiles and “Shahed” drones hit the Kyiv and Shevchenkivskyi districts of the city, damaging apartment buildings, the private sector, severed overhead wires, and cutting a gas pipeline.

According to Terekhov, a fire is raging in the Slobodsky district at the site of the enemy strike. The attack also damaged Central Park.

Sinegubov added that as of now, 14 people have been injured in Kharkiv and the village of Rai-Olenivka during the massive enemy attack. Among the injured is a 7-year-old boy. There may be people under the rubble.

Updated at 7:08. The State Emergency Service showed the consequences of the attack on the Kharkiv region. It is noted that hits were recorded in the Kyiv, Shevchenkivskyi, Slobodskyi and Saltivskyi districts of the city, as well as in the village of Rai-Olenivka, Kharkiv district. 

As a result of the shelling, 2 fire centers occurred. The structures of two private residential buildings in the Saltivskyi district were on fire, as well as a car and garage structures in the Slobidskyi district of the city. According to preliminary data, 14 people were injured, including one child. Multi-storey and private residential buildings were damaged.

Poltava region

As reported by the head of the Poltava OVA Vitaliy Dyakivnych, the enemy attacked the region at night. As a result of falling debris and direct hits, the facilities of an industrial enterprise in the Poltava district were damaged. According to the State Emergency Service, the fires that arose as a result of the attack have been eliminated. 

In the Lubny district, falling debris damaged a private home and a power line. 18,209 households and 1,781 legal entities are without power. Power engineers are working to restore power supply. There were no injuries.

Odesa region

The Odessa region has also come under attack. As reported by the head of the OVA, Oleg Kiper, the enemy continues to strike at the energy infrastructure of the region. 

The attack damaged an energy facility in the south of the region. According to preliminary information, there were no casualties. All relevant services have begun work to eliminate the consequences of the strike.

The threat persists

As of 6:17, the air alert continues. Air targets are observed in the sky. According to the FS, the missiles are maneuvering, changing course. Citizens are urged to take shelter.

Monitoring channels report that Russian tactical aircraft are still in the air. Repeated launches are possible.

(C)UNIAN 2026