Russia Launches 948 Drones in 24 Hours, Largest Aerial Attack of the War; Spring Offensive Assessed Underway
Russia launched 948 drones and 36 missiles against Ukraine in the largest aerial attack over a 24-hour period since the full-scale invasion began. Over 400 drones hit during an unusual daytime wave following overnight strikes that killed at least five. Targets included Lviv (22 injured, 16th-century UNESCO Bernardine monastery damaged), Kyiv, Ivano-Frankivsk (where a newborn and her father were killed at a maternity hospital), Vinnytsia, and Ternopil. Ukrainian officials report Russia is using a new tactic: exhausting air defenses overnight then launching daytime drone waves. ISW separately confirmed Russia has begun its spring-summer 2026 ground offensive against Ukraine's Fortress Belt in Donetsk, with a single March 19 assault losing 405 of 500 attackers (81% casualty rate).
Prior INTSUM reported ISW's assessment that the spring-summer offensive had begun, with 405/500 casualties in a single Fortress Belt assault. Today's 948-drone barrage confirms the offensive is operational across both air and ground domains. The tactic of exhausting air defenses overnight before daytime drone waves is new.
3 sources
- Russia fires nearly 400 drones at Ukraine with signs its spring offensive has started - Washington Post / AP
- Largest strike of war: Russia unleashes 948 drones in 24 hours, as spring offensive begins -
Euromaidan Press - Russia's record attack kills newborn and her father at maternity hospital in Ivano-Frankivsk -
Euromaidan Press