Russia Launches Hundreds of Attacks on Ukraine in One Night

On February 11, Russia launched a massive wave of ballistic missiles and drones targeting several Ukrainian cities during the night. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Moscow is hesitant about another round of U.S.-mediated discussions aimed at ending the conflict. Both Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin have expressed dissatisfaction with Donald Trump’s ability to mediate the war. Trump has managed to upset both leaders by questioning Ukraine's independence while also appearing to favor Russia's military strength. Now, both countries seem to be engaging in Trump's approach.

Upcoming Meeting

Following the recent Russian airstrikes, Donald Trump announced that he would host a meeting between the two nations, either in Miami or Abu Dhabi. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed his attendance at the meeting, but Russian leader Vladimir Putin has yet to comment on the proposed gathering. According to Zelenskyy, Russia is showing hesitation. He mentioned that the United States has set a June deadline for Ukraine and Russia to reach an agreement. Russia invaded Ukraine nearly four years ago and continues to refuse to give up the limited territory it has occupied.

Russian Strikes

In January and February, Russia intensified its attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. The strikes targeted power grids and residential areas. United Nations officials have urged Russia to cease what they describe as an "energy war" against Ukraine. On February 11, according to the Ukrainian air force, Russia launched 219 long-range strike drones, 24 ballistic missiles, and a guided aircraft missile at Ukraine. Although less than ten people were killed in the attacks, nearly half a million people lost their electricity. Most of the strikes occurred in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and the city of Odesa.

Ukraine has been targeting Russian oil infrastructure for the past three months, managing to destroy a significant portion of the Kremlin's oil refineries. In response to the hundreds of drone strikes on February 11, Ukraine carried out its longest drone strike of the war. Ukraine deployed its long-range 'Flamingo' missiles, striking a Russian oil refinery. Ukraine also confirmed that a 'Flamingo' missile hit one of the Russian military's TUSER PARABOLA storage sites for missiles, ammunition, and explosives in the Volgograd region. Ukrainian forces also caused a fire at the Michurinsk Progress Plant in Russia’s Tambov region, a defense enterprise producing high-technology equipment for aviation and missile systems.

Level of Destruction

From Wednesday night to Thursday, February 12, Russia fired 219 long-range strike drones, 24 ballistic missiles, and a guided aircraft missile at Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian air force. The cities of Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, and Dnipro all experienced attacks. All four cities have faced continuous bombardment from Russian forces. In Dnipro, four people were injured, including a 4-year-old girl and a newborn boy. Two people were injured in Kyiv, but dozens of buildings were seriously damaged, and fires burned for 12 hours. In Odesa, one person was injured as a residential high-rise was partially destroyed and a supermarket caught fire.

Oleksii Kuleba, deputy prime minister for the restoration of Ukraine, stated that 2,600 buildings lost heating after the Kyiv attack, in addition to 1,100 buildings in the capital already without heating due to previous attacks. In Odesa alone, nearly 300,000 residents were left without running water, Kuleba said, while in Dnipro, the central heating system stopped working for some 10,000 people. In total, nearly 500,000 Ukrainians have been left without a home or power.

Russia’s War on Ukraine

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, at least 2 million people have been killed – mostly military personnel – and another million displaced from both sides, making it the deadliest conflict of the 21st century. The U.S. government is pressuring Ukraine to surrender control over the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine – an area largely occupied by Russian forces. Ukraine and its European allies have firmly rejected the idea of giving up land. According to Trump, conceding land is the moral choice for Ukraine to make, as “a lot of people are dying,” and he claims that multiple Ukrainian “lieutenants” and Zelenskyy’s “top people” agree with the U.S. administration. Volodymyr Zelenskyy has clearly stated that Ukraine will never concede its sovereign territory.