Russia's Biggest Aerial Attack on Ukraine

Russia launched its biggest aerial attack against Ukraine since the full-scale invasion in February 2022, firing 537 aerial weapons including drones and missiles. The attack targeted multiple regions across Ukraine, resulting in casualties, damage to industrial facilities, and power outages. Ukraine's air force managed to shoot down 249 of the incoming weapons but also lost an General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon warplane, with the pilot dying. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack, while Russian President Vladimir Putin had recently expressed readiness for peace talks, which now seem further away. Poland and allied countries scrambled aircraft to secure their airspace. Both sides reported drone attacks and counter-attacks, with Russia claiming control of Novoukrainka in the Donetsk region. The event highlights the ongoing intensity of the conflict and the continuous development of drone warfare.