At least 11 people, including five children, were killed and 30 others wounded in overnight Russian missile and drone attacks on the eastern Ukrainian city of Dobropillia, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry reported on March 8. The strikes caused extensive damage to eight multi-storey buildings and 30 vehicles.
The ministry revealed that while firefighters were extinguishing the resulting blaze, Russian forces launched another attack, damaging a fire truck. Photos shared by the ministry depicted partially destroyed buildings engulfed in flames, with rescuers working to clear the rubble.
In a separate drone attack on the Kharkiv region in northeastern Ukraine, three civilians were killed and seven others injured, according to the ministry.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks, stating, “Everything that helps Putin finance the war must collapse.” He emphasized the need to strengthen air defenses and impose stricter sanctions on Russia.
The Ukrainian military reported that Russia launched two Iskander-M ballistic missiles, one Iskander-K cruise missile, and 145 drones overnight. Ukrainian air forces successfully intercepted one cruise missile and 79 drones, while another 54 drones failed to reach their targets due to electronic countermeasures.
The attacks come amid heightened tensions following the U.S. pause on military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, which analysts warn could weaken Kyiv’s air defense capabilities. Dobropillia, located in the Donetsk region, lies just 22 kilometers from the front line near Pokrovsk, a key hub under sustained Russian assault.