Ukraine launches massive drone assault on Russia, targeting multiple regions and Crimea, Moscow says
Russia said it intercepted 660 Ukrainian drones during a large-scale overnight assault that targeted multiple regions, Russian-occupied Crimea, and surrounding waters in what appeared to be one of Kyiv’s biggest drone operations of the war.
According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, Ukraine carried out coordinated strikes across roughly a dozen regions, including attempts to reach areas near Moscow, where officials said dozens of drones were shot down. The total number of intercepted drones marked a higher figure than a previous major attack in May, when 556 drones were reported downed.
Ukraine has increasingly relied on long-range drones to strike deep inside Russian territory, focusing on oil refineries, energy infrastructure, and military logistics hubs. Western officials and analysts say the campaign has strained Russia’s fuel supplies and military transport networks while increasing pressure on the Kremlin’s war effort.
Initial reports from Russia suggested limited damage details, though some unofficial accounts claimed a chemical plant and a hydroelectric facility in the Novomoskovsk area were hit and caught fire. Those claims could not be independently verified and were not confirmed by officials.
Moscow officials said 47 drones were intercepted as they approached the capital. No casualties or significant damage were reported there.
Ukraine’s security services said they conducted strikes in Crimea’s Kerch area, targeting Russian naval vessels and radar systems. The agency claimed several ships were hit and fires were ignited, though those reports also could not be independently verified.
The overnight escalation came shortly after Ukraine’s president said he had ordered what he described as a 40-day campaign aimed at increasing pressure on Russia and forcing it toward negotiations, following stalled international peace efforts.
At the same time, both sides confirmed a prisoner exchange involving 160 detainees each, marking another rare moment of coordination during the ongoing conflict.
Ukraine also reported continued Russian strikes across its territory. Officials said at least three civilians were killed and dozens more wounded in attacks spanning the Kharkiv region and other areas, including Kyiv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, and Sumy. Some strikes involved glide bombs and ballistic missiles, several of which penetrated air defenses.
Ukraine’s air force said it intercepted most incoming drones overnight but acknowledged that several missiles struck their targets.
Separately, Ukrainian officials said there is no evidence of a new Russian troop buildup near the Belarusian border, though Russia continues expanding military infrastructure deeper inside Belarus.
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