Record-Breaking Russian Air Assault Hits Ukraine: 537 Weapons Unleashed, Multiple Casualties Reported
In its most extensive aerial bombardment to date, Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine on Sunday, June 29, deploying 537 aerial weapons, including 477 drones and decoys alongside 60 missiles, according to Ukraine’s air force. The assault, described as the largest since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022, targeted multiple regions, striking areas far from the front lines and deepening concerns about escalating violence in the ongoing three-year conflict. The Associated Press quoted Ukraine’s air force communications head, Yuriy Ihnat, confirming the scale of the attack, noting that 249 of the aerial weapons were shot down, while 226 were likely disrupted by electronic jamming.
The barrage hit regions including Lviv, Poltava, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Cherkasy, with local governors reporting explosions across these areas. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack, stating it underscored Russian President Vladimir Putin’s determination to continue the war despite global calls for peace. “This shows Putin’s intent to prolong this conflict,” Zelensky said, urging stronger air defenses and reiterating Ukraine’s request for U.S.-made Patriot missile systems to protect civilians.
Casualties were reported in several regions. In Kherson, a drone strike claimed one life, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin. In Kharkiv, another person was killed when a drone struck a car, as reported by Governor Oleh Syniehubov. In Cherkasy, six people, including a child, were injured, per regional Governor Ihor Taburets.
On the diplomatic front, Russian foreign intelligence chief Sergey Naryshkin revealed he held a phone call with CIA Director John Ratcliffe, agreeing to maintain open lines of communication for “issues of mutual interest,” though no specifics were shared. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump, whose administration has shifted U.S. policy toward Moscow since taking office, has not publicly responded to Ukraine’s request for enhanced military support.
The attack highlights the ongoing challenges in securing a resolution to the conflict, as Ukraine continues to call for international assistance to bolster its defenses against Russia’s intensifying air campaigns.