Russia launched the largest aerial attack of the entire Ukraine invasion in the early hours of June 29, according to Ukrainian officials. The Russians dispatched a total of 537 aerial weapons in the overnight bombardment, including 477 drones and decoys along with at least sixty missiles, Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat told the Associated Press.
This latest attack is part of a broader escalation in Russia’s air war that has seen the number of drones fired at Ukraine more than double during the six months since Donald Trump returned to the White House. The dramatic increase in Russian airstrikes has led to a sharp rise in Ukrainian civilian casualties in recent months, and is now threatening to overwhelm the country’s limited air defense capabilities.
Russia’s air offensive is not new, of course. The Kremlin has been bombing Ukraine’s critical infrastructure and civilian population since the onset of the full-scale invasion more than three years ago. Recently, however, technological advances and increased industrial output have made it possible for Moscow to significantly expand the bombardment of Ukrainian cities. The Kremlin’s goal is to make life unbearable for Ukrainian civilians and increase the pressure on the country’s political leadership as Russia seeks to secure Kyiv’s capitulation.
Voice of Ukraine 