Ukrainian forces carried out a major drone assault on Russian territory, their largest since Russia’s invasion over four years ago. Nearly 800 drones were launched, following a previous similar offensive, according to officials.
Simultaneously, a Russian missile attack on a village in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region resulted in at least 10 fatalities and eight injuries, as homes were destroyed, officials reported.
Both countries are engaged in a fierce exchange of long-range aerial attacks. Analysts note that the front line, stretching roughly 780 miles in eastern and southern Ukraine, is heavily affected by drones and ground robots, restricting troop movements.
Recently, Ukraine has focused on creating and using long-range drones for strikes deep within Russia. These drones have caught global attention among governments and defense manufacturers.
Kyiv’s strategy aims to underscore the war’s impact on Russian civilians, hoping to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin into peace negotiations. To date, Putin has shown no intention of halting the invasion.
“Putin continues to drag out the war instead of accepting Ukraine’s realistic ceasefire proposals and ending the bloodshed,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in a post on X.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported intercepting 791 Ukrainian drones across various Russian regions and areas including annexed Crimea and the Black and Azov seas. This incident represents the second-largest drone attack since January 2025.
Over 600 drones targeted the Moscow region, with 180 being shot down, explained Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. No further details were provided. There were no reported deaths or significant damage in the Moscow region.
Three individuals sustained injuries, according to Governor Andrei Vorobyov.
The attack resulted in a fire at a warehouse of Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer. Ukraine has targeted these depots, claiming they support the Russian military. Wildberries reported only minor damage.
In Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, a missile strike on Pechenihy village claimed 10 civilian lives. According to Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv regional military administration, 17 people were injured. President Zelenskyy condemned this “brutal attack,” which damaged homes, a cafe, a post office, a store, and vehicles.
“We will definitely respond to this Russian strike,” Zelenskyy stated on social media.
The past day’s attacks in Ukraine’s Sumy region, involving drone strikes and an explosive device, resulted in three deaths and three injuries, according to Ukraine’s National Police.