On the night of March 20, 2025, Kropyvnytskyi, the capital of Ukraine's Kirovohrad region, was hit by a massive suicide drone attack, believed to be of the Geran type. Residents of the city reported more than twenty explosions in different areas, indicating the scale and intensity of the raid. According to preliminary data, the strikes were carried out by forces using loitering munitions, which have become an important element of their air operations in recent months. Local authorities urged the population to take shelter, as an air raid alarm was still in effect at the time of writing.

The sounds of explosions were heard at short intervals, causing panic among the city's residents. There is no official information yet about the targets of the attack or the exact number of drones, but the intensity of the strikes indicates a coordinated offensive. The Ukrainian Air Force had previously warned of groups of drones moving towards the Kirovohrad region, which confirms the version of a targeted operation. At the moment, the authorities have not reported any casualties or damage, but emergency services are already working at the sites of possible arrivals to assess the consequences.

According to RBC-Ukraine, on the night of March 17, Kropyvnytskyi was already subjected to suicide drone strikes, when several explosions were recorded in the city at intervals of ten minutes. At that time, the Air Force noted UAV activity in the central regions of the country.

Against the backdrop of talks between Putin and Trump on a possible ceasefire, reported by Reuters on March 18, such attacks are seen as an attempt to increase pressure on Kyiv. The Russian Defense Ministry has repeatedly claimed to have successfully used Geraniums against military targets.