Zelensky says Russia used “more than 1,550 attack drones” in a week of strikes

On Aug. 16, authorities reported 12 deaths from overnight drone and missile attacks in Russia and Ukraine, with both sides hitting targets far behind the front lines as ground fighting remains largely frozen. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, reacting to the latest assault on his country, said Russian forces had inflicted a week of heavy strikes on Ukrainian cities, citing thousands of drones, guided bombs, and dozens of missiles in an appeal for allied air defenses. Russian strikes hit a large steel plant in Zelensky’s hometown, a Kyiv book market, and other regions; Ukrainian drones killed people in several Russian regions. The exchange comes as civilian casualties have reached their highest levels since the opening months of the 2022 invasion.