Russia launched one of the largest daytime drone assaults on Ukraine since the war began, deploying over 550 drones to strike city centers. The attack damaged the 17th-century St. Andrew’s Church in Lviv, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and injured 26 people. Ukrainian officials reported 15 confirmed hits from Russian drones, with shelters shuttered and businesses disrupted during the midday strikes. The assault followed overnight Russian missile and drone barrages that killed four and wounded dozens, highlighting escalating aerial warfare.

The Ukrainian Air Force called the daytime strike "one of the most massive attacks" of the war. Combined with overnight operations, Russia unleashed over 1,000 drones in 24 hours, overwhelming air defenses. In Lviv, a Russian drone hit the historic church, while Zaporizhzhia and Vinnytsia saw hospital and residential building damage. President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks as proof Russia has "no intention of ending this war," complicating his push for renewed peace talks.

The strikes killed two people in Ivano-Frankivsk, where two maternity hospitals and 10 residential buildings were damaged. Vinnytsia reported one death and 13 injuries, with 90 rescuers deployed. Kharkiv and Poltava also faced casualties from earlier overnight attacks. Firefighters battled blazes in Zaporizhzhia as night fell, underscoring the sustained destruction.

Analysts warn the daytime assault signals a strategic shift, targeting civilian infrastructure to erode morale. With 1,000 drones used in under 24 hours, experts question Ukraine’s ability to counter such saturation tactics. The conflict’s market impact extends to global grain and energy markets, as disrupted Ukrainian exports threaten food security and energy prices. Volunteer firefighters and emergency services face mounting pressure amid relentless strikes.