Key takeaways: Russia launched nearly 400 long-range drones overnight, alongside cruise and ballistic missiles, killing four civilians and injuring at least 27. Kyiv and analysts say intensified attacks and the movement of heavy equipment point to a spring–summer offensive now underway. Fighting continues along a roughly 1,250-km front line, while Ukraine leans on advanced domestic drones and offers air-defense expertise to partners.
Russia Launches Nearly 400 Drones in Largest Strike in Weeks as Spring Offensive Appears Underway
Rescue workers try to put out a fire of a residential building burning after a Russian drone attack on Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Kateryna Klochko)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Ukrainian officials said a major Russian drone and missile assault on populated areas killed four people and wounded at least 27, as Moscow intensified efforts to break through front-line defenses in what analysts warn may be the start of a spring ground offensive.
Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia fired almost 400 long-range drones overnight — the heaviest drone barrage in weeks — with dozens continuing to strike into Tuesday morning and some targeting the capital, Kyiv, in daylight.
In addition to the unmanned aircraft, Russian forces launched 23 cruise missiles and seven ballistic missiles overnight, striking at least 10 locations across the country, the air force said.
Front-Line Fighting and Military Assessments
The roughly 1,250-kilometer (750-mile) front line across eastern and southern Ukraine has seen renewed pressure as milder weather arrives and Russia repositions heavy equipment and additional troops. Kyiv’s commander-in-chief, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, said forces in recent days attempted simultaneous breakthroughs in several strategic sectors.
“Fierce fighting unfolded along the entire line of contact,” Syrskyi wrote on Telegram, adding that Russian forces launched 619 attacks during a four-day period.
The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said Syrskyi’s report aligns with its assessment that a spring–summer offensive is now underway, noting an escalation of strikes since March 17. Independent verification of battlefield claims remains limited.
Rescue workers try to put out a fire of a residential building burning after a Russian drone attack on Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Kateryna Klochko)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Local Resistance and Impact on Civilians
A Ukrainian soldier near Lyman in Donetsk — a key strategic objective for Moscow — said Russian units intensified assaults and bombardment but had not achieved a decisive breakthrough. Ukrainian defenders reportedly repelled initial attacks, destroying advancing columns and inflicting losses on armored vehicles and personnel.
“The situation is tense, but not critical,” the soldier, who gave only his call sign, said. Civilian areas continue to suffer: authorities reported four dead and at least 27 wounded in the latest strikes.
Drone Warfare and International Dimensions
Ukraine has expanded its domestic drone capabilities to compensate for shortages in infantry and to strike targets that support Russian operations. Kyiv is also offering its battle-tested drone-defence expertise to U.S. and Gulf partners in hopes of trading know-how for scarce Patriot air-defense systems.
Russia’s defense ministry said its air defenses intercepted 55 Ukrainian drones overnight over Russian regions, the annexed Crimea and the Black Sea.
As the situation evolves, analysts warn that increased troop movements, intensified strikes and heavier equipment flows to the front are consistent with an effort to press a broader offensive — but urban breakthroughs remain difficult and costly, and claims on both sides are challenging to independently confirm.
Follow ongoing coverage from multiple sources as the situation develops; casualty and battle reports are fluid and may be updated.
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