KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – In the largest overnight drone bombardment of the ongoing war, Russia launched 479 drones at Ukraine, as reported by the Ukrainian air force on Monday. This escalation is part of the Kremlin's continued summer offensive, occurring amid ongoing direct peace talks.
Along with the drone strikes, Russia fired 20 missiles of various types across different parts of Ukraine, targeting mainly central and western regions, according to the air force. Ukrainian air defenses reported that they successfully destroyed 277 drones and 19 missiles during the night, claiming only 10 of the attackers managed to reach their objectives. One individual was reported injured as a result of the attacks.
Verification of these claims remains unconfirmed independently. The recent spike in aerial attacks coincides with a reenergized Russian military push along the eastern and northeastern segments of the approximately 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy characterized the situation in some affected areas as "very difficult" but provided no further details.
Ukraine faces a challenging situation on the front lines, as it seeks additional military assistance from Western allies, particularly in terms of air defense capabilities. Uncertainty surrounding U.S. policy regarding the conflict has fueled skepticism about the extent of support Kyiv can expect.
The two recent rounds of direct peace talks held in Istanbul between Russian and Ukrainian representatives have not resulted in any substantial agreements, apart from discussions on exchanging prisoners and addressing the vast losses of military personnel on both sides.
Typically, Russian aerial assaults occur during the late evening and conclude in the morning, as drones become harder to detect in the dark. Throughout the war, Russia has directed attacks using Shahed drones against civilian areas in Ukraine, contributing to the deaths of over 12,000 Ukrainian civilians, according to United Nations data. Russia maintains that its operations target military objectives exclusively.
In retaliation, Ukraine has developed long-range drones capable of striking deep into Russian territory. On Monday, Russia’s Ministry of Defense reported downing 49 Ukrainian drones overnight across seven of its regions. Local officials noted that two drones impacted a facility in the Chuvashia region, more than 600 kilometers east of Moscow, which specializes in electronic warfare equipment.
Additionally, Alexander Gusev, the head of Russia's Voronezh region, stated that 25 drones were intercepted in that area, resulting in damage to a gas pipeline and igniting a small fire. Furthermore, the Ukrainian General Staff claimed that special operations forces targeted and struck two Russian fighter jets stationed at the Savasleyka airfield in Novgorod region, located roughly 650 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The specifics of the attack on the planes were not disclosed.
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