If you’ve followed the war in Ukraine, you’ve likely noticed how the headlines have grown darker with each passing month. Russia’s aerial campaign has escalated to a level of devastation not seen since the early days of the full-scale invasion. The statistics alone tell a grim story—civilian casualties have surged to record highs, and the scale of destruction across Ukrainian cities is unlike anything seen before.
Russian troops have stepped up their deployment of drones, missiles, and glide bombs, sending waves of attacks that have tripled in intensity since the latter part of 2024. According to monitors of the conflict, over 1,600 civilians were killed in such attacks last year, a sharp spike from the previous year. The UN said that June 2025 was the bloodiest month for civilians in more than three years, with 232 dead and over 1,300 wounded. These figures express the unrelenting rhythm of Russia’s aerial war, in which hundreds—if not more than a thousand—drones and missiles are released in one night.
What is new is the manner in which Russia has turned to mass production of improved drones. These newer generations are quicker, fly at higher altitudes, and have heavier warheads, and they are significantly more destructive than their predecessors. They are not only targeted against military targets but against the very core of civilian existence—apartment complexes, schools, hospitals, and crucial energy supply lines. There are reports that entire factories are now allocated to maintaining this campaign, ensuring a constant stream of drones that are killing and will kill.
The scope of these aerial raids has grown exponentially. Towns in western Ukraine that were once remote from the frontline are now regular targets. Lutsk, Chernivtsi, and others are now included alongside Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Dnipro as cities that have been subject to regular bombardment. Last month, unprecedented raids were launched, each comprising hundreds of drones accompanied by cruise and ballistic missiles. Experts say that raids with over 1,000 drones simultaneously could soon be the new standard.
The cost to civilians is staggering. The UN has confirmed more than 13,000 dead since the outright invasion, with thousands more estimated missing or unaccounted for. Millions have been displaced, and the emotional damage runs deep. Children are especially at risk—casualty rates among youth jumped sharply ithe n the spring of 2025, with over 200 fatalities in mere three months. Schools have been levelled to the ground, compelling students to study online or in underground classrooms. Hospitals have also taken major hits. In one particularly horrific attack, Ukraine’s central children’s hospital in Kyiv was destroyed, a culmination of previous attacks on maternity wards and clinics.
Energy infrastructure is another prime target. Russia has, since 2024, transitioned from attacking Ukraine’s power grid networks to willfully destroying power generation facilities. By fall, much of Ukraine’s thermal power generation was destroyed, and close to half of the nation’s electricity generation was lost. Millions have been left without heat, water, or light due to rolling blackouts lasting sometimes weeks in a row. The strikes have even posed nuclear safety risks through the continued bombing of grids powering Ukraine’s nuclear plants and ongoing shelling around the Zaporizhia station.
The leveling of housing blocks and schools is not an accident—part of a strategy. The use of glide bombs, usually targeting crowded urban districts, indicates that civilians are targeted intentionally. Drones carrying live video back to operators indicate that civilians are being targeted intentionally. The target is obvious: to cause maximum misery, shatter morale, and debilitate Ukraine’s resilience to withstand the war.
Ukrainian officials characterize the bombing campaign as sheer terror. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that these attacks are intended to “break the nation,” but top officials contend that Russia is attacking civilians because it cannot succeed on the battlefield. Independent military experts concur, adding that these bombings are less about military gain in the short term and more about wearing down the will of Ukraine and its supporters.
The world has rallied against it with ferocity. NATO and allies have placed sanctions on Russia’s military sector and energy earnings while humanitarian groups scramble to deal with the crisis. Over 12 million Ukrainians are in need, and relief operations are among the largest in Europe’s recent history.
Ukraine is not idle. Modern air defense systems like the Patriot are being deployed, while Ukrainian engineers are racing to develop their own interceptor drones to counter the massive nightly raids. Kyiv has also taken the fight back across the border, striking oil depots and military facilities in Russia to disrupt its ability to sustain the bombing. However, the experts advise that no amount of air defense can completely stem the magnitude of Russia’s attack—offensive fires might be the only means to relieve the pressure.
As the conflict drags on, Russia’s aerial bombardment remains firmly on Ukraine’s weary shoulders. Wrecks of homes, schools, hospitals, and power stations are not just a military strategy—they’re a blow to day-to-day life. And yet, even with the destruction, Ukrainians remain unfazed. The fight goes on, distinguished by stoicism and resolve in the face of a campaign meant to disintegrate them.
