Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Ukrainian air defenses engage as Russian forces deploy an unprecedented number of missiles and drones across multiple regions.
In a significant escalation of hostilities, the Russian military has launched its most extensive air assault on Ukraine since the onset of the invasion in February 2022.
Early reports indicate that Russian forces fired a staggering 477 drones accompanied by 60 ballistic and cruise missiles targeting southern, western, and central Ukraine.
This broad-scale attack has been characterized by the Ukrainian Air Force as the heaviest wave of strikes to date.
The repercussions of this operation are being felt across various regions.
In the Lviv region, near the Polish border, a significant fire broke out at a factory in the city of Drohobych due to drone strikes, leading to power outages in parts of the city.
Additionally, in the Cherkasy region, a drone attack has resulted in one fatality and multiple injuries, including a child.
The Ukrainian military has reported destroying 211 drones and 37 missiles during the assault.
They stated that an additional 225 drones were classified as 'lost,' a term used to denote drones redirected by Ukrainian electronic warfare or those that did not carry explosives and served as decoys in the extensive aerial assault.
As the air campaign unfolded, Ukrainian authorities in Kharkiv reported a tragic incident involving a 60-year-old man killed when his vehicle was struck by a Russian drone.
The Ukrainian Air Force also confirmed the downing of an F-16 fighter jet, which Ukraine had recently received from one of its western allies.
The pilot was unable to eject and did not survive the incident; this marks the third loss of an F-16 by Ukrainian forces since the beginning of the conflict.
The pilot reportedly engaged in intercepting seven aerial targets before suffering damage that led to the crash.
In response to these developments, Poland, along with NATO allies, scrambled fighter jets to ensure that there were no unauthorized incursions into Polish airspace.
On the diplomatic front, President Vladimir Putin announced Russia's readiness to engage in a new round of peace talks in Istanbul.
In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remarked that Putin had made his decision to prolong the conflict long ago, disregarding calls for peace from the international community.
Currently, Russia occupies roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory and continues to launch relentless airstrikes, with no imminent signs of the conflict de-escalating.
Previous efforts mediated by the United States have resulted in limited progress, with two previously conducted Istanbul talks yielding few tangible outcomes.
Early reports indicate that Russian forces fired a staggering 477 drones accompanied by 60 ballistic and cruise missiles targeting southern, western, and central Ukraine.
This broad-scale attack has been characterized by the Ukrainian Air Force as the heaviest wave of strikes to date.
The repercussions of this operation are being felt across various regions.
In the Lviv region, near the Polish border, a significant fire broke out at a factory in the city of Drohobych due to drone strikes, leading to power outages in parts of the city.
Additionally, in the Cherkasy region, a drone attack has resulted in one fatality and multiple injuries, including a child.
The Ukrainian military has reported destroying 211 drones and 37 missiles during the assault.
They stated that an additional 225 drones were classified as 'lost,' a term used to denote drones redirected by Ukrainian electronic warfare or those that did not carry explosives and served as decoys in the extensive aerial assault.
As the air campaign unfolded, Ukrainian authorities in Kharkiv reported a tragic incident involving a 60-year-old man killed when his vehicle was struck by a Russian drone.
The Ukrainian Air Force also confirmed the downing of an F-16 fighter jet, which Ukraine had recently received from one of its western allies.
The pilot was unable to eject and did not survive the incident; this marks the third loss of an F-16 by Ukrainian forces since the beginning of the conflict.
The pilot reportedly engaged in intercepting seven aerial targets before suffering damage that led to the crash.
In response to these developments, Poland, along with NATO allies, scrambled fighter jets to ensure that there were no unauthorized incursions into Polish airspace.
On the diplomatic front, President Vladimir Putin announced Russia's readiness to engage in a new round of peace talks in Istanbul.
In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remarked that Putin had made his decision to prolong the conflict long ago, disregarding calls for peace from the international community.
Currently, Russia occupies roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory and continues to launch relentless airstrikes, with no imminent signs of the conflict de-escalating.
Previous efforts mediated by the United States have resulted in limited progress, with two previously conducted Istanbul talks yielding few tangible outcomes.
