‘All designated facilities’ hit: Russia claims success in largest drone attack on Ukraine since war began

Russia carried out its biggest drone attack on Ukraine since the start of the war, hitting multiple places across the country. The attack happened overnight and involved a huge number of unmanned drones, with Ukrainian reports stating a total of 479 drones and 20 missiles were used.

Ukraine’s air defenses managed to stop most of the incoming threats, shooting down 460 drones and 19 missiles, but the attack still caused damage. One of the main targets was a military airfield near the city of Dubno, which is close to Ukraine’s border with Poland. According to Reuters, the airfield suffered some damage during the strike.

The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that all planned targets were successfully struck, saying the attack was in response to recent Ukrainian drone strikes that had damaged several Russian air bases earlier in the month. One of those strikes, “Operation Spiderweb,” reportedly damaged multiple Russian aircraft. This latest attack shows how the conflict is becoming more intense, with both sides carrying out bold, long-range strikes on military targets deep inside enemy territory.

Russia attacked Ukraine with biggest drone strike yet

The military airfield near Dubno was one of the most important targets in the Russian attack. Because the airfield is so close to Poland’s border, Poland quickly responded by scrambling Polish and allied fighter jets to protect its airspace. The attack also disrupted air travel in Russia, with several airports imposing flight restrictions due to the increased military activity.

In addition to the airfield strike, the Kyiv Independent reported another incident involving Ukrainian drones hitting a Russian facility. This attack targeted the JSC VNIIR Progress facility in Cheboksary, which is in Russia’s Chuvashia Republic. The facility works on developing and producing electronic warfare systems, including parts for guided bombs and Shahed-type attack drones.

Reports say the strike caused fires and explosions, damaging the facility. While the extent of the damage is unclear, the Ukrainian military said the attack weakened Russia’s ability to produce certain air attack systems. This strike follows an earlier attack in the same region that hit an oil refinery.

The increasing back-and-forth of long-range drone strikes shows how the war has reached a deadlock. Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia have not made any real progress, leaving both sides stuck in their positions. Ukraine is still calling for an unconditional ceasefire as a first step toward ending the conflict. However, Russia has repeatedly refused this idea, making the war continue and raising the risk of even more severe attacks. The large scale of Russia’s latest offensive and Ukraine’s counterstrikes highlights how the war is changing, with both sides carrying out more frequent and daring long-range attacks. The conflict remains unstable and complicated, with no clear path to peace and no signs of progress in diplomatic efforts.