Russia launches biggest aerial attack on Ukraine since the start of the war
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477 drones, 60 missiles: Russia launches biggest aerial attack on Ukraine; F-16 downed, pilot killed
Russia launched 477 drones and 60 missiles on Ukraine overnight in the biggest aerial attack since the start of the war. Ukrainian officials described the attack as the ‘most massive air strike’ The F-16 warplane Ukraine received from its Western partners was also downed in the Russian attack, while the pilot died as the fighter jet went down. Russia’s lethal aerial assault comes a day after the nation had amassed 1,10,000 troops in the vicinity of Pokrovsk – which Moscow considers a strategic target. The renewed wave of attacks also follows Russia President Vladimir Putin’s claims that Moscow was open to resuming peace talks in Istanbul. The ongoing escalation, however, shows no signs of abating as US-led international peace efforts have so far produced no breakthrough.
Ukrainian officials described the attack as the ‘most massive air strike’.
The attack comes amid Russian President Vladimir Putin’s saying that Moscow is ready for a fresh round of direct peace talks in Istanbul.
The F-16 warplane Ukraine received from its Western partners was also downed in the Russian attack, while the pilot died as the fighter jet went down.
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The deadly assault is a part of Russia’s escalating bombing campaign, a Ukrainian official said on Sunday.
Yuriy Ihnat, head of communications for Ukraine’s air force, told the Associated Press that Russia’s overnight onslaught was “the most massive air strike” on Ukraine, taking into account both the drones and missiles fired as part of the attack.
Attack rages across Ukraine; Poland scrambled aircraft to ensure safety Russia’s attack targeted regions across Ukraine, including western Ukraine, far from the frontline.
Poland and allied countries scrambled aircraft to ensure the safety of Polish airspace, the Polish air force said Sunday.
Residents stand in front of their apartment building damaged during Russian drone and missile strikes, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in the town of Smila, Cherkasy region, Ukraine June 29, 2025. Press service of the National Police of Ukraine in Cherkasy region/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. DO NOT OBSCURE LOGO.
Out of the total 537 weapons that Russia fired at Ukraine, 249 were shot down and 226 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed, the Ukraine Air Force said, reported news agencies.
‘Russians were targeting everything…’ Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a clip of the assault on X, claiming that the “Russians were targeting everything that sustains life.”
Zelenskyy said that almost all night, air raid alerts sounded across Ukraine, as Russia pounded with majorly Russian-Iranian Shahed drones along with 60 missiles of various types.
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Russia’s lethal aerial assault comes a day after the nation had amassed 1,10,000 troops in the vicinity of Pokrovsk – which Moscow considers a strategic target.
The renewed wave of attacks also follows Russia President Vladimir Putin’s claims that Moscow was open to resuming peace talks in Istanbul. The ongoing escalation, however, shows no signs of abating as US-led international peace efforts have so far produced no breakthrough.
“Moscow will not stop as long as it has the capability to launch massive strikes. Just this week alone, there have been more than 114 missiles, over 1,270 drones, and nearly 1,100 glide bombs. Putin long ago decided he would keep waging war, despite the world’s calls for peace,” Zelensky wrote on X, on Sunday, June 29.
Russia ramps up attacks on Ukraine in biggest air offensive since war began
Russia fired a total of 537 aerial weapons at Ukraine, including 477 drones and decoys and 60 missiles, Ukraine’s air force said. Of these, 249 were shot down and 226 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed. The attack was “the most massive air strike” on the country since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Russia is showing no signs of de-escalating its bombardment of Ukraine after it launched its biggest aerial attack on its neighbour overnight, according to Ukrainian officials, since the three-year-conflict began.
Russia launched its biggest aerial attack against Ukraine overnight, a Ukrainian official said Sunday, part of an escalating bombing campaign that has further dashed hopes for a breakthrough in efforts to end the 3-year-old war.
Russia fired a total of 537 aerial weapons at Ukraine, including 477 drones and decoys and 60 missiles, Ukraine’s air force said. Of these, 249 were shot down and 226 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed.
The onslaught was “the most massive air strike” on the country since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, taking into account both drones and various types of missiles, Yuriy Ihnat, head of communications for Ukraine’s air force, told The Associated Press. The attack targeted several regions, including western Ukraine, far from the front line.
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Read moreMore than 350 Russian drones, missiles blast Kyiv killing at least seven
(FRANCE 24 with AP)
Read more on FRANCE 24 English
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Russia launched its largest aerial attack of the war, Ukraine says
Moscow fired 537 aerial weapons toward Ukraine, including 477 drones and decoys and 60 missiles, according to Ukraine’s air force. Among these weapons, 249 were shot down and 226 were lost, likely electronically jammed. The attack was “the most massive airstrike” against Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion in February 2022, Yuriy Ihnat, head of communications for Ukraine’s air force, said. One person was killed in a drone strike in the Kherson region, while another died when a drone hit a car in the Kharkiv region.
Russia launched its biggest aerial attack overnight since the start of the war against Ukraine, a Ukrainian official said on Sunday.
Moscow fired 537 aerial weapons toward Ukraine, including 477 drones and decoys and 60 missiles, according to Ukraine’s air force. Among these weapons, 249 were shot down and 226 were lost, likely electronically jammed.
The attack was “the most massive airstrike” against Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion in February 2022, Yuriy Ihnat, head of communications for Ukraine’s air force, told The Associated Press, taking into account both drones and various types of missiles.
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Several regions were targeted, including western Ukraine, located far from the front line.
Poland and allied countries scrambled aircraft to ensure the safety of Polish airspace, Poland’s air force said.
One person was killed in a drone strike in the Kherson region, according to Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin, while another died when a drone hit a car in the Kharkiv region, its Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said. Six people were wounded in Cherkasy, including a child, regional Gov. Ihor Taburets said.
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In the far-western Lviv region, a large fire broke out at an industrial facility in the city of Drohobych after a drone attack that also cut electricity to parts of the city.
Ukraine’s air force said one of its F-16 warplanes supplied by the West crashed after sustaining damage as it was shooting down air targets, killing the pilot.
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The new attacks come after Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Moscow is ready for another round of direct peace talks in Istanbul to end the war.
No end appears to be in sight as international peace efforts coordinated by the U.S. have not yet led to any breakthroughs. Two recent rounds of talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul were brief and yielded no progress on reaching an agreement.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Ukrainian F-16 pilot killed as Russia launches 477 drones, 60 missiles; Zelenskyy urges West: ‘We’re ready to buy Patriots’
A Ukrainian F-16 pilot was killed while defending the country from one of Russia’s most intense aerial attacks in months. “This war must be brought to an end, pressure on the aggressor is needed, and so is protection,” he said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “Ukraine needs to strengthen its air defense, the thing that best protects lives,’ he said. � “Just this week alone there have been more than 1,270 missiles, and nearly 1,100 glide bombs, underscoring the need for more robust air defense.” “While shooting the last target, his actions helped save civilian lives, even though he didn’t have enough time to eject.’ “ “ Ukraine is ready to purchase US-made Patriot missile batteries,“ he said, “and we’re going to use them to protect the country.“ ‘We’ve got a lot of work to do, but it’ll be worth it in the long run,‘ he added.
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The overnight assault, which involved hundreds of drones and missiles, left at least seven civilians injured and caused widespread damage across several regions, triggering renewed calls from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for urgent Western air defense support.
Top 10 key points-
Ukrainian F-16 pilot killed after intercepting seven Russian targets:
A Ukrainian fighter pilot died while defending against a large-scale Russian air assault overnight. According to Ukraine’s Air Force, the pilot successfully destroyed seven incoming targets using all onboard weapons.
His aircraft was hit while downing the final target. Though he diverted the jet away from a populated area, he did not have enough time to eject. This marks the third Ukrainian F-16 lost since the war began.
Massive overnight Russian barrage: 477 drones, 60 missiles launched:
Ukrainian military officials said Russia launched 477 drones and 60 missiles in one of the heaviest overnight strikes in recent weeks. The assault included cruise and ballistic missiles, as well as glide bombs, continuing a trend of high-intensity night attacks targeting Ukrainian infrastructure and defenses.
Ukraine shoots down 211 drones, 38 missiles; 225 declared decoys or diverted:
In response, Ukrainian defense forces deployed all available systems and intercepted 211 drones and 38 missiles. The Air Force added that another 225 drones were either diverted using electronic warfare techniques or turned out to be drone simulators carrying no warheads.
Civilians injured, buildings damaged in multiple regions:
The attacks injured at least seven people, including a child in the Cherkasy region. Governor Ihor Taburets said three multi-storey buildings and a college were hit.
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One woman was injured in the western Ivano-Frankivsk region. Local authorities shared images showing blackened walls, blown-out windows, and emergency workers rescuing civilians.
Industrial facilities hit in Mykolaiv and Dnipropetrovsk:
Strikes targeted industrial sites in central and southern Ukraine, including Mykolaiv and Dnipropetrovsk. Officials are still assessing the scale of the damage.
Air raid sirens and explosions reported in at least six regions:
Explosions were reported in Lviv, Poltava, Mykolaiv, Cherkasy, Dnipropetrovsk, and Ivano-Frankivsk as air raid sirens sounded throughout the night.
The Ukrainian military confirmed air strikes in six separate locations.
Zelenskyy calls for urgent air defense aid after latest wave:
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, responding to the overnight barrage, again appealed to Western allies for more robust air defense systems. “This war must be brought to an end, pressure on the aggressor is needed, and so is protection,” he said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “Ukraine needs to strengthen its air defense, the thing that best protects lives.”
Ukraine ready to buy
Patriot missile systems
, says Zelenskyy:
Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is ready to purchase US-made Patriot missile batteries. He said he had raised the issue directly with US President Donald Trump during their meeting in The Hague last week. “Now we count on leadership, political will, and the support of the United States, Europe, and all our partners,” he wrote.
Russia ramping up attacks – 1,270 drones and 114 missiles this week alone:
Zelenskyy warned that Russia has sharply escalated its offensive in recent days. “Just this week alone, there have been more than 114 missiles, over 1,270 drones, and nearly 1,100 glide bombs,” he said, underscoring the urgency of international support.
Air Force confirms pilot’s heroism in final moments:
In its statement, the Ukrainian Air Force highlighted the fallen pilot’s courage. “The pilot used all of his onboard weapons and shot down seven air targets,” it said. “While shooting down the last one, his aircraft was damaged and began to lose altitude.” His actions helped save civilian lives, even though it cost him his own.
Russia launches the biggest aerial attack since the start of the war, Ukraine says
Russia fired a total of 537 aerial weapons at Ukraine, including 477 drones and decoys. Of these, 249 were shot down and 226 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed. One person died in a drone strike in the Kherson region, while another was killed when a drone hit a car in the Kharkiv region. Russia claimed Sunday that it had taken control of the village of Novoukrainka in the partially Russian-occupied Donetsk region. The fresh attacks follow Russian President Vladimir Putin’s comments Friday that Moscow is ready for a fresh round of direct peace talks in Istanbul. However, the war shows no signs of abating as U.S.-led international peace efforts have so far produced no breakthrough.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia launched its biggest aerial attack against Ukraine overnight, a Ukrainian official said Sunday, part of an escalating bombing campaign that has further dashed hopes for a breakthrough in efforts to end the 3-year-old war.
Russia fired a total of 537 aerial weapons at Ukraine, including 477 drones and decoys and 60 missiles, Ukraine’s air force said. Of these, 249 were shot down and 226 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed.
The onslaught was “the most massive airstrike” on the country since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, taking into account both drones and various types of missiles, Yuriy Ihnat, head of communications for Ukraine’s air force, told The Associated Press. The attack targeted several regions, including western Ukraine, far from the front line.
Poland and allied countries scrambled aircraft to ensure the safety of Polish airspace, the country’s air force said.
One person died in a drone strike in the Kherson region, Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said, while another was killed when a drone hit a car in the Kharkiv region, according to its Gov. Oleh Syniehubov. Six people were wounded in Cherkasy, including a child, according to regional Gov. Ihor Taburets.
In the far-western Lviv region, a large fire broke out at an industrial facility in the city of Drohobych following a drone attack that also cut electricity to parts of the city.
Ukraine’s air force said one of its F-16 warplanes supplied by its Western partners crashed after sustaining damage while shooting down air targets. The pilot died.
Russia’s defense ministry said it had shot down three Ukrainian drones overnight.
Two people were wounded in another Ukrainian drone attack on the city of Bryansk in western Russia, regional Gov. Alexander Bogomaz said Sunday morning, adding that seven Ukrainian drones had been shot down over the region.
Meanwhile, Russia claimed Sunday that it had taken control of the village of Novoukrainka in the partially Russian-occupied Donetsk region.
Russian forces have been slowly grinding forward at some points on the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, though their incremental gains have been costly in terms of troop casualties and damaged armor.
The fresh attacks follow Russian President Vladimir Putin’s comments Friday that Moscow is ready for a fresh round of direct peace talks in Istanbul.
However, the war shows no signs of abating as U.S.-led international peace efforts have so far produced no breakthrough. Two recent rounds of talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul were brief and yielded no progress on reaching a settlement.
Long-range drone strikes have been a hallmark of the war. The race by both sides to develop increasingly sophisticated and deadlier drones has turned the conflict into a testing ground for new weaponry.
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Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine