Russia launched more than 1,720 attack drones, dropped nearly 1,300 guided aerial bombs, and fired over 100 missiles at Ukraine in the final week of winter, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on 1 March.
“Ukrainians live under thousands of Russian strikes with various types of weapons,” Zelenskyy said in a statement. He added that despite the scale of attacks, Ukraine endured what he described as a difficult winter marked by continued assaults on civilian infrastructure.
19,000 drones and 738 missiles over three winter months
According to the figures released by the president, Russia launched more than 14,670 guided aerial bombs, 738 missiles, and nearly 19,000 attack drones over the three winter months.
Most of the drones were Iranian-designed Shahed systems, which Moscow has used extensively against Ukrainian cities and energy facilities.
Zelenskyy said Russia made no attempt to justify what he called deliberate strikes on civilian critical infrastructure. Throughout the winter, Ukrainian authorities repeatedly reported attacks targeting power plants, substations, and heating facilities in an apparent effort to strain the energy grid during peak demand.
These strikes led to an unprecedented energy crisis, causing widespread blackouts and emergency power restrictions across multiple regions. Repeated damage to generation and transmission facilities disrupted heating, water supply, and essential services during the coldest months of the year.
Zelenskyy links Shahed drones to broader global security threats
The president also linked the use of Shahed drones in Ukraine to broader security threats, noting that Iran has deployed similar systems in the Middle East. “Evil must be countered in every part of the world,” he said, arguing that coordinated action by the United States and its partners can ultimately hold “the bloodiest dictators” accountable.
Zelenskyy thanked international partners for continued military assistance, saying their support helps Ukraine defend itself and save lives as large-scale aerial attacks persist.
