Russian missiles and drones bombard Ukraine in hourslong attack, killing
at least 16 people
[April 16, 2026]
By HANNA ARHIROVA and VASILISA STEPANENKO
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia hammered civilian areas of Ukraine with
hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles in an attack that stretched
for hours from daytime into the night, killing at least 16 people and
injuring more than 80 others in its biggest aerial barrage in almost two
weeks, officials said Thursday.
Russia launched nearly 700 drones and dozens of ballistic and cruise
missiles, primarily targeting civilians, authorities said. Moscow's
forces have hit civilian areas almost daily since its all-out invasion
of its neighbor more than four years ago, with the regular assaults
occasionally punctuated by massive attacks. More than 15,000 Ukrainian
civilians have died in the strikes, the United Nations says.
The latest bombardment came in the wake of Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy's 48-hour trip this week to Germany, Norway and Italy in an
urgent search for more air defense systems that can stop Russian
missiles. Ukraine fears the Iran war is burning through stockpiles of
the advanced American-made systems it needs, and has argued against a
U.S. temporary waiver on Russian oil sanctions that Kyiv says is helping
finance the Kremlin's war effort.
“Another night has proven that Russia does not deserve any easing of
global policy or lifting of sanctions,” Zelenskyy said on X.
He thanked Germany, Norway and Italy for new agreements this week on
supporting Ukraine's air defense. Officials are also working with the
Netherlands on additional supplies, he said.
At the same time, he noted that some partner countries haven't followed
through on pledges of military support.
“I have instructed the Commander of the Air Force to contact those
partners who earlier committed to providing missiles for Patriot and
other systems,” Zelenskyy said.
At least four people were killed in Kyiv, including a 12-year-old, with
more than 50 others injured, according to authorities.
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People take shelter inside a house damaged after a Russian strike on
residential area in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (AP
Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Tetiana Sokol, a 54-year-old resident of Kyiv, said two missiles hit
near her home and she took cover with her dog in the hallway as
flashes lit up the night and windows shattered from the blast wave.
“On the third attack everything broke, everything flew, we were
shocked, we didn’t know where to run. I grabbed whatever came to
hand and ran away with the dog,” she told The Associated Press. “I
still can’t find the cats in the house, they climbed out somewhere,
I don’t even know. No windows, nothing, the dog is still walking
around in stress.”
Nine people were killed and 23 injured in the southern port city of
Odesa, three were killed and around three dozen injured in the
central Dnipro region, and one person was killed in Zaporizhzhia in
the south.
“Such attacks cannot be normalized. These are war crimes that must
be stopped and their perpetrators held to account,” Ukraine’s
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X.
Ukraine’s air force said air defenses shot down or disabled 667 out
of 703 incoming targets, including 636 Shahed-type drones and other
uncrewed aerial vehicles.
It said 20 strike drones and 12 missiles hit 26 locations.
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