Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russian forces carried out more than 3,000 drone strikes across Ukrainian cities and communities in the past week, including a significant number of Shahed-type drones. In addition, he reported that over 1,450 guided aerial bombs and at least 40 missiles of various types were used against Ukraine.
Zelenskyy warned that Russia is intensifying its assault on Ukraine while simultaneously prolonging other conflicts that contribute to global instability.
From Lviv’s historic district to an Odesa maternity ward
The week's toll was not abstract. Over 24 hours on 23–24 March, Russia launched nearly 1,000 drones and 36 missiles in the largest aerial assault of the full-scale war – reaching not just the east but deep into western Ukraine.
Drones struck Lviv's historic area, setting auxiliary buildings of a UNESCO-listed complex alight. In Ivano-Frankivsk, a maternity hospital was hit, killing a newborn and her father as they left the facility together after the birth. One person was killed and 11 injured in Vinnytsia Oblast in the same assault.
On 28 March, Shahed drones struck a maternity hospital in Odesa with 80 people inside. Two people died from their injuries; more than ten were wounded. Balconies were destroyed, fires broke out on upper floors of high-rise buildings, and over ten cars were damaged.
"The same drones hitting us are hitting the Gulf"
“The strike drones used against us are the same types deployed in the Middle East and the Gulf region,” he said, emphasizing that Russian ballistic attacks are applied with similar cynicism in both theaters.
He noted that these actions disrupt global markets and block maritime routes, with consequences felt worldwide.
Ukraine's fight framed as a global security contribution
Speaking on the broader implications, Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine is contributing to global security by countering Russian attacks. He urged the international community to act quickly and decisively to protect lives and stop wars.
“Clear, coordinated efforts are needed to provide real protection and to build joint, modern defense systems tested by war,” he said.
The president also called for international cooperation in arms production and defense technology. He highlighted the importance of sharing capabilities so that people in Europe, the Middle East, and other regions can live in peace.
A call for joint weapons development
“We need to develop modern, effective weapons together and unite our capacities,” Zelenskyy said, framing Ukraine’s fight as part of a broader effort to strengthen global security.
His statement underscores the scale of Russia’s drone and missile campaign against Ukraine and positions Kyiv as both a frontline and a contributor to wider defense efforts. The attacks come amid ongoing concerns about the spread of conflict and the destabilization of global energy and shipping routes.
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