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Russia launched one of its biggest missile attacks of the year on Ukraine overnight, killing at least one and injuring more than a dozen — with the deadly onslaught striking a US electronics manufacturer and sending Poland scrambling warplanes to protect its airspace.

The barrage of 574 drones and 40 ballistic and cruise missiles mostly targeted western regions of Ukraine, the Ukrainian air force said Thursday — just as the diplomatic push to stop the three-year war was trying to gain momentum.

The strikes — the third-largest aerial attack this year alone — zeroed in on regions where much of the military aid provided by Ukraine’s Western allies is believed to be delivered and stored, officials said. 


  A firefighter battles a burning building after a Russian air attack in Lviv, Ukraine, on Aug. 21, 2025. UKRAINIAN EMERGENCY SERVICE/AFP via Getty Images A firefighter battles a burning building after a Russian air attack in Lviv, Ukraine, on Aug. 21, 2025. UKRAINIAN EMERGENCY SERVICE/AFP via Getty Images

In the western city of Lviv, the latest onslaught killed one person, injured three more, and damaged 26 homes, Governor Maksym Kozytskyi said.

Over in Mukachevo, another 15 people were wounded and the storage facilities at the US manufacturer were destroyed, according to local officials.


  Workers pass by an apartment building hit by a Russian drone strike in Ukraine on Aug. 21, 2025. REUTERS Workers pass by an apartment building hit by a Russian drone strike in Ukraine on Aug. 21, 2025. REUTERS

The strike wiped out the US-owned Flex factory, which makes household items, including coffee machines, the Kyiv Independent reported.

“This is not the first Russian attack on American businesses in Ukraine, after strikes on Boeing offices in Kyiv earlier this year and other attacks,” Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in a post on X.


  Heavy black smoke billows in the air after several buildings were struck by a Russian air attack in Mukachevo, Ukraine. Telegram / @Zakarpat_ODA/AFP via Getty Images Heavy black smoke billows in the air after several buildings were struck by a Russian air attack in Mukachevo, Ukraine. Telegram / @Zakarpat_ODA/AFP via Getty Images

“A fully civilian facility that has nothing to do with defense or the military,” he added. “This is why efforts to force Russia to end the war are so critical.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also condemned the latest strikes, saying they were carried out “as if nothing were changing at all.”


  People take shelter inside a train station during an air raid alert on Aug. 21, 2025. REUTERS People take shelter inside a train station during an air raid alert on Aug. 21, 2025. REUTERS

He stressed the Kremlin has shown no signs of pursuing meaningful negotiations to end the war — a week after President Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska and then with Zelensky and other European leaders at the White House earlier this week.

Meanwhile, the latest barrage of missiles had Poland rushing to defend its airspace.


  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a meeting with reporters on Aug. 20, 2025. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/AFP via Getty Images Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a meeting with reporters on Aug. 20, 2025. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/AFP via Getty Images

“In connection with the activity of long-range aviation of the Russian Federation, conducting strikes on Ukrainian territory — including with the use of hypersonic missiles — aircraft of the Polish air force and allied aviation are operating in Polish airspace,” the Polish Operational Command of the Armed Forces said on X.

The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed its forces had carried out strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure and other targets.


  Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on Aug. 20, 2025. VYACHESLAV PROKOFYEV/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL/EPA/Shutterstock Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on Aug. 20, 2025. VYACHESLAV PROKOFYEV/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL/EPA/Shutterstock

Moscow has repeatedly denied targeting civilians since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago, but claims infrastructure is a legitimate target because it helps Ukraine’s war effort.

Russia defended the attacks, saying Ukraine was “not interested” in a long-term peace deal — accusing Kyiv of seeking security guarantees incompatible with Russia’s demands.

“The Ukrainian regime and its representatives comment on the current situation in a very specific way, directly showing that they are not interested in a sustainable, fair, long-term settlement,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters.


  Firefighters work to extinguish flames inside a destroyed building in the Lviv region on Aug. 21, 2025. via REUTERS Firefighters work to extinguish flames inside a destroyed building in the Lviv region on Aug. 21, 2025. via REUTERS

Meanwhile, Ukraine has kept up its own attacks with domestically produced long-range drones on infrastructure inside Russia that supports Moscow’s war effort.


  Explosions light up the night sky over Kyiv during a Russian airstrike on Aug. 21, 2025. REUTERS Explosions light up the night sky over Kyiv during a Russian airstrike on Aug. 21, 2025. REUTERS

It comes as Zelensky said Ukraine will hold intensive meetings soon to understand what kind of security guarantees its allies are willing to provide.

He then expects to be ready to hold direct talks with Putin for the first time since the full-scale invasion, which could potentially be conducted in a trilateral format alongside President Trump.

With Post wires

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