Russia Launches Mass Drone And Missile Barrage On Ukraine As Front-Line Strikes Intensify

Ukraine reported one of its heaviest overnight attacks in weeks, saying Russia fired close to 290 drones and more than a dozen ballistic missiles in a single wave of strikes. Ukrainian air-defence units said they intercepted a large share of the incoming weapons, though the barrage underscored the intensity of the conflict as winter approaches.

Kyiv also reported a drone strike that set fire to a major oil refinery in a Russian city, part of Ukraine's continued campaign against Russian energy infrastructure. Russian air defences reported repelling an attack involving large numbers of drones, with injuries reported at the targeted facility.

What happens next

The escalation comes as several European nations prepare to lead a multinational military exercise to test allied forces' ability to deploy in the event of a future peace settlement. Diplomatic efforts continue in parallel, but the overnight strikes point to a grinding war with no immediate off-ramp.

With winter closing in, the renewed focus on energy infrastructure, Ukraine's grid and Russia's refineries, suggests both sides are bracing for a cold-weather phase in which the targeting of power and fuel supplies becomes a central feature of the conflict.