Ukraine Reports Russia's Largest Overnight Drone Attack with 479 Drones Launched in Major Escalation
Russia launches its largest drone assault since the conflict began, firing 479 drones and 20 missiles at Ukraine overnight.
In the largest drone assault since the beginning of the conflict, Russia launched 479 drones at Ukraine overnight, signaling a significant escalation in aerial attacks. According to the Ukrainian air force, this coordinated operation also included 20 missiles of various types aimed at multiple regions, with a particular focus on central and western parts of the country.
The Ukrainian air defense network responded by intercepting much of the incoming threat, successfully destroying 277 drones and 19 missiles before they could reach their intended targets. Air force officials stated that only 10 of the missiles or drones managed to hit their marks during the extensive barrage. Such high interception rates underscore both the intensity of the assault and the continued resilience of Ukraine’s defensive capabilities.
Typically, Russia's drone and missile campaigns are launched late in the evening and continue into the early morning hours, as drones are more difficult to detect and target under cover of darkness. This latest attack follows a persistent pattern in which Russian forces have heavily relied on Shahed drones to attack Ukrainian territory, often aiming at civilian infrastructure and urban centers.
The ongoing war has taken a devastating toll on the civilian population. In over three years of conflict, drone and missile strikes have contributed to the deaths of more than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians, according to international observers. Despite this, Russian authorities maintain that their operations are directed solely at military targets.
The increasing use of drones demonstrates both technological adaptation and the harrowing scale of the air war over Ukraine, with each new wave of attacks deepening the humanitarian crisis and highlighting the ongoing volatility of the front lines.
