In what Ukraine has described as the largest overnight drone attack since the war began in 2022, Russia launched 479 drones and 20 missiles across the country, targeting primarily central and western regions. The Ukrainian air force reported that 277 drones and 19 missiles were intercepted, while only a handful reached their intended targets, injuring one person.
The drone barrage marks a significant intensification in Russia’s summer offensive, coinciding with increased military operations along Ukraine’s eastern and northeastern front lines. “The situation is very difficult,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged late Sunday, though he did not provide further details.
Despite being outgunned, Ukraine has delivered strategic blows in recent weeks. A June 1 drone strike hit air bases deep inside Russian territory, including a reported attack on two fighter jets stationed at Savasleyka airfield in the Nizhny Novgorod region. While Ukrainian forces claimed damage, Russian sources have downplayed the impact.
In retaliation, Russia has intensified its aerial campaign, with one strike hitting Ukraine’s Dubno air base in the Rivne region. Russian officials said these assaults were in response to Ukrainian drone strikes targeting nuclear-capable bombers.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts remain stagnant. Recent peace talks in Istanbul resulted in only limited prisoner exchanges. On Monday, another round of swaps was conducted, including wounded soldiers and youth under the age of 25. President Zelenskyy described the process as “quite complicated,” with ongoing daily negotiations.
Outside a hospital in Chernihiv, the emotional toll of war was on full display. Dozens of families formed a silent corridor, holding up photographs of missing loved ones in hopes of news. Soldiers released in the swap walked through the crowd in silence, their faces reflecting both relief and fatigue.
As uncertainty looms over continued Western military aid, particularly from the United States, Ukraine has reiterated its urgent plea for more air defense systems to fend off Russia’s expanding aerial campaign.
