Kyiv’s air force reported on Monday that Russia launched a record 479 drones overnight in a massive aerial assault. The attack caused damage in several Ukrainian regions, though there were no reports of deaths or mass casualties.
According to the Ukrainian air force, enemy air strikes were recorded in 10 different locations. Oleksandr Tretyak, the mayor of the western city of Rivne, called it “the largest attack” on the region since the war began.
Ukraine says Russia has escalated attacks in recent weeks, indicating Moscow’s lack of intention to end its three-year invasion and its unwillingness to engage seriously in peace talks.
The barrage has raised concerns about the capacity of Ukraine’s stretched air defense systems, but the air force stated it shot down or intercepted 460 of the drones, along with 19 out of 20 missiles fired by Russia overnight.
Ukraine also launched its own overnight strike on an electronics factory producing parts for Russian drones. Local Russian officials reported that the facility had to temporarily halt production after the attack.
