Asger Risom
Ukraine has accused Russia of launching a massive drone assault targeting several regions, marking one of the largest such attacks in recent months amid the ongoing war.
The Ukrainian Air Force said on Monday that Russian forces had deployed 107 kamikaze drones and various decoy devices during the overnight operation.
According to its statement on Telegram, 74 of these drones were successfully intercepted. The primary targets were reportedly located in the eastern provinces of Donetsk and Kharkiv.
Intense Pressure in Eastern Ukraine
The drone barrage comes as Russian forces continue to make incremental gains in eastern and northeastern Ukraine.
Donetsk, one of the four Ukrainian regions annexed by Moscow in 2023—a move widely condemned and not recognized internationally—has been the focal point of many recent advances.
Despite Ukraine’s successful air defenses, the sheer volume of drone attacks highlights the growing pressure on Ukrainian forces, particularly in strategically critical areas.
Russia Reports Its Own Drone Interceptions
In response, Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed it had intercepted 15 drones allegedly launched by Ukraine.
The ministry said ten drones were destroyed over the Kursk region and five others over the Sea of Azov, as reported by 20minutos.
As with the Ukrainian report, there were no immediate confirmations of casualties or damage from either side.
The renewed escalation in drone warfare reflects the increasingly technological nature of the conflict, with both sides investing in unmanned systems to conduct strikes, gather intelligence, and test each other’s air defenses.
The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, especially as the European Union just extended its economic sanctions against Russia through 2026 in response to its actions in Ukraine.
