Russia launched a record-breaking aerial assault on Ukraine overnight, firing 479 drones in what Kyiv’s air force described on Monday as the largest drone barrage since the war began. The unprecedented attack spanned several regions and marked another escalation in Moscow’s three-year-old invasion, which continues despite mounting international calls for a ceasefire.
Ukraine’s air force confirmed that air strikes were recorded in 10 separate locations across the country. While damage was reported, there were no immediate reports of fatalities or mass injuries.
Oleksandr Tretyak, the mayor of Rivne in western Ukraine, described the assault as “the largest attack” the region has faced since the start of the full-scale war. His remarks underscore the growing strain on Ukraine’s already stretched air defence capabilities.
Kyiv, however, reported a high success rate in intercepting the assault. According to the air force, 460 of the drones were shot down, along with 19 of the 20 missiles launched during the night.
The assault comes amid a recent surge in Russian attacks, which Ukrainian officials interpret as evidence that Moscow remains unwilling to engage in meaningful peace negotiations. Instead, they say, the Kremlin is intensifying its military campaign.
In a coordinated response, Ukraine said it carried out a retaliatory drone strike on an electronics factory in Russia believed to manufacture components for Iranian-designed Shahed drones frequently used in attacks on Ukrainian cities. Russian regional officials confirmed the attack led to a temporary suspension of operations at the facility.
