Russia Unleashes Record Drone Barrage on Ukraine, Escalating Air Defense Crisis
Russia Unleashes Record Drone Barrage on Ukraine, Escalating Air Defense Crisis
Russia conducted its largest drone attack of the war on Ukraine overnight into Wednesday, July 9, 2025, deploying an unprecedented 741 aerial attack vehicles, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Ukraine’s air force reported intercepting 711 drones and seven missiles out of 728 drones and 13 missiles launched, primarily targeting the northwestern Volyn region and its city of Lutsk.
Zelenskyy condemned the ‘massive’ assault, highlighting it as the highest number of aerial targets in a single day and a clear signal from Moscow against U.S.-led peace efforts. Damage was reported across multiple Ukrainian regions, including Dnipro, Kyiv, and Kharkiv. The Ukrainian president reiterated calls for stringent sanctions, particularly on Russian oil, and urged international partners to intensify pressure on Russia.
The widespread strikes prompted Poland, a NATO member bordering Ukraine, to scramble its fighter jets and elevate its air defense readiness. Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its strikes targeted ‘military airfield infrastructure’ and hit ‘all designated targets.’ Concurrently, Ukraine continued its own cross-border drone attacks, with Moscow reporting the downing of 86 Ukrainian drones, including four over the Moscow region.
This latest escalation follows a record-breaking June for long-range Russian drone and missile launches into Ukraine. The barrages come amidst a controversial freeze by the Trump administration on shipments of critical air defense and precision-guided weapons to Ukraine, citing concerns over U.S. stockpiles. Zelenskyy has instructed his defense officials to urgently intensify contacts with the U.S. regarding the resumption of military aid, emphasizing its crucial role in saving lives and defending Ukrainian cities.
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