Russia has launched its largest aerial attack on Ukraine since the start of the war, firing 537 aerial weapons, including 477 drones and 60 missiles. According to Ukraine’s air force, 249 of these were shot down, while 226 were lost, likely due to electronic jamming. Yuriy Ihnat, head of communications for Ukraine’s air force, described the attack as “the most massive air strike” on the country, targeting regions across Ukraine, including western Ukraine, far from the frontline.
President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that the Russians were targeting everything that sustains life, with bombing damaging homes and infrastructure. The Ukrainian military said some 500 different types of aerial weapons were used during the attack, including drones, ballistic and cruise missiles.
The attack resulted in significant damage, with three multi-storey buildings and a college damaged, and industrial facilities hit in the southern Ukrainian Mykolaiv and central Dnipropetrovsk regions. At least six people, including a child, were wounded in the central Cherkasy region, while one person died in a drone strike in the Kherson region.
Ukraine’s air force deployed all available means to repel the massive attack, with the pilot of a Ukrainian F-16 jet heroically protecting the skies. Tragically, the F-16 pilot, Maksym Ustymenko, died after destroying seven aerial targets, with his aircraft damaged and losing altitude.
Casualties and Damage
- 6 people, including a child, wounded in Cherkasy region
- 1 person killed in drone strike in Kherson region
- 3 multi-storey buildings and a college damaged
- Industrial facilities hit in Mykolaiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions
International Reaction
- Poland and allied countries scrambled aircraft to ensure safety of Polish airspace
- Global concerns raised about ongoing conflict and need for international pressure to bring about peace
President Zelensky emphasized that Moscow will not stop as long as it has the capability to launch massive strikes, calling for strengthened air defense systems and international support to protect lives. The attack has further dashed hopes for a breakthrough in efforts to end the 3-year-old war ¹ ².