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Deadly strikes hit Donetsk and Kharkiv regions
Summary
A look back at 8 March 2025, when Russian missile and drone attacks killed civilians in Dobropillia and Bohodukhiv, days after a large overnight barrage.
What did a single day of Russian strikes cost Ukrainian civilians? On 8 March 2025, the answer was at least fourteen lives across two regions.
In Dobropillia, in Donetsk Oblast, a Russian ballistic missile strike killed at least eleven people and injured 37 others. In Kharkiv Oblast, a Russian Shahed drone strike on a business park in Bohodukhiv killed three people and wounded seven.
The preceding night
The attacks followed a large overnight assault on 7 March 2025, when Russia launched missiles and drones across Ukraine and damaged energy and gas infrastructure. Ukraine said it shot down 34 of 67 missiles and 100 of 194 drones.
The same day, Ukraine used its Dassault Mirage 2000 jets against Russian forces for the first time. The aircraft intercepted several Russian cruise missiles with air-to-air missiles.
Support from partners
On 6 March 2025, partners had signalled continued backing. French defence minister Sebastien Lecornu said France would keep sharing military intelligence with Ukraine about the Russian invasion. Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof announced US$3.8 billion in national military funding for Ukraine in 2026, including $700 million for Dutch drone manufacturing. Norwegian and Polish leaders also announced increases in military aid.
Taken together, the reports from 6 to 8 March 2025 show a pattern: Russia was striking energy infrastructure and civilian sites, while Ukraine was fielding new air-defence capability and European governments were announcing further assistance.
