The Daily Populous Thursday May 14th, 2026 evening edition
Authored by bbc.co.uk and submitted by Samski877

The overnight barrage saw more than 670 drones and 56 missiles targeting the country, President Volodomyr Zelensky said. This is among the largest attacks Russia has mounted since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The strikes hit more than 180 sites across Ukraine, including more than 50 residential buildings, Zelensky added.

He said a total of more than 1,560 Russian drones had targeted Ukrainian cities since Tuesday night, describing Moscow's assault as "definitely not the actions of those who believe the war is coming to an end" and urging allies to hold Moscow accountable.

After an urgent meeting with Ukraine's top military and security officials, Zelensky said a "significant number" of drones were shot down, with an "overall interception rate" of 93%.

But the same figures for missiles stood at 73%, the Ukrainian leader said, admitting that the "key challenge" remained in how to defend against Russian ballistic missiles.

He said the "priority number one" was to secure more deliveries of "anti-ballistic systems and missiles for them".

Ukraine has repeatedly said it has a massive shortage of US-made Patriot missile systems which can effectively intercept Russian ballistics.

Reacting to the latest Russian attacks, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen accused Moscow of indiscriminately targeting civilians.

"Another night of death and destruction," she wrote in a post on X. "While Russia openly mocks diplomatic efforts, we continue to strengthen Ukraine.

"We are finalising a €6 billion ($7bn; £5bn) drone support package. And we keep the pressure on Russia's war economy with ever tougher sanctions," von der Leyen added.

Substantial_Milk8170 on May 14th, 2026 at 12:42 UTC »

Another day, another Russian 'precision strike on a military target' that mysteriously looks exactly like a civilian apartment block.

Final-Golf7631 on May 14th, 2026 at 11:32 UTC »

I really wish Ukrainian secret service finds these drone technicians/operators and visits them.

Samski877 on May 14th, 2026 at 09:55 UTC »

Its hard to even imagine what it must feel like going to sleep in your own apartment and waking up to explosions, collapsing buildings and rescue crews pulling neighbours from rubble.

After years of war people outside Ukraine see headlines and statistics, but for families in Kyiv this is still their real life every single day. Thats the part I think a lot of the world has slowly become numb to.