Russia launches attack on Ukraine with signs its spring offensive started

Key Points:

• A major Russian drone and missile attack on Ukraine killed six civilians and injured at least 46, with nearly 400 long-range drones and multiple cruise and ballistic missiles targeting at least 10 cities, including Kyiv, Dnipro, Lviv, and Ivano-Frankivsk.
• The attack damaged significant cultural sites, including setting fire to Lviv’s 17th-century St. Andrew’s Church, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, and caused damage to maternity hospitals and residential buildings.
• Russian forces intensified frontline assaults along the eastern and southern front lines, launching over 600 attacks in four days as part of a broader spring-summer offensive, though Ukrainian commanders report fierce resistance and no breakthroughs.
• Ukrainian troops have repelled Russian advances near strategic locations like Lyman, with increased Russian airstrikes and ground attacks failing to achieve significant gains, while Ukraine leverages advanced drone technology for defense and counterattacks.
• Ukraine is offering its drone defense expertise to U.S. and Gulf partners in exchange for Patriot missile systems, aiming to strengthen its air defenses amid ongoing Russian bombardments and regional conflicts diverting international attention.