On the night of February 17, Russian forces carried out a large-scale strike on military facilities across Ukraine, according to the Telegram channel Operation Z: Voenkory Russkoy Vesny.

In the early phase of the attack, the channel reported the takeoff of Tu-95MS and Tu-160 strategic missile carriers, noting that the exact number of aircraft was still being уточнено at that time. It also indicated that naval vessels were expected to put to sea to launch Kalibr cruise missiles.

The operation reportedly involved MiG-31K fighter jets armed with Kinzhal missiles, as well as operational-tactical missile systems. Strike drones known as Geran were also deployed. The channel claimed that hundreds of unmanned aerial vehicles were used in the attack. According to its information, the drones followed a route similar to that of a previous large-scale strike — moving through central regions of Ukraine before heading west.

Ukrainian media outlets, for their part, reported explosions in Kirovograd, Odessa, and Dnepropetrovsk.