Ukraine endured its most extensive aerial assault since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022, with officials on Sunday describing an overnight onslaught that battered multiple regions, strained air defenses, and killed at least two civilians.
“This was the most massive airstrike on the country,” said Yuriy Ihnat, spokesperson for Ukraine’s air force, in an interview with The Associated Press. He said the attack included both missiles and drones and reached deep into western Ukraine, far from active front lines.
According to Ukraine’s air force, Russia launched 537 aerial weapons, including 477 drones and decoys and 60 missiles. Air defenses managed to shoot down 249, while another 226 were lost, likely due to electronic jamming.
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The impact was widespread. In Kherson, a drone strike killed one person, regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin confirmed. In Kharkiv, another individual died when a drone struck a car, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov. In Cherkasy, six people, including a child, were wounded in additional strikes, said regional Governor Ihor Taburets.
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In Lviv’s Drohobych, a drone-triggered fire tore through an industrial facility, knocking out electricity to parts of the city.
Meanwhile, Ukraine lost one of its newly delivered F-16 fighter jets. The plane went down after sustaining damage while intercepting Russian drones. The pilot did not survive.
In neighboring Poland, the military scrambled aircraft in coordination with NATO allies to protect national airspace during the attack.
This wave of bombings comes just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed Moscow is open to new rounds of direct peace negotiations in Istanbul. Despite the overture, the war grinds on with no signs of de-escalation. Previous negotiations in Istanbul between Russian and Ukrainian envoys were short-lived and failed to produce tangible progress.
Drone warfare continues to dominate the conflict. Both sides are locked in a high-tech arms race, using Ukraine as a proving ground for increasingly advanced and lethal drone technology.
