Russia has carried out its most extensive aerial assault on Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began, launching over 700 drones and missiles overnight. The wave of Iranian-made Shahed drones and cruise missiles targeted infrastructure and military sites in at least 11 Ukrainian regions, according to Kyiv's air force.

The attack triggered NATO air response protocols, with Polish, French, and British jets scrambled after Russian projectiles neared the alliance’s eastern flank.

Ukraine’s Defenses Respond, But Damage Spreads

Ukrainian forces reported intercepting 296 drones and seven missiles, while 415 drones were either jammed or went off-course. The western city of Lutsk—home to strategic airfields—suffered significant damage. Two civilians were reported injured in the Kyiv region.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strike as a calculated attempt to disrupt the flow of Western military aid through Ukraine’s western corridor. “We need decisions, not just words,” he said, calling for accelerated arms deliveries and expanded sanctions on Russia’s oil exports.

NATO Forces On Alert As Strike Nears Alliance Borders

The scale and proximity of the attack prompted Poland to scramble fighter jets and raise its defense readiness level. The incident also led to heightened alert among French and British NATO air units.

Moscow, meanwhile, claimed it had intercepted 86 Ukrainian drones over six regions, including the Moscow area. A separate Ukrainian drone strike reportedly killed three people in the Russian city of Kursk.

The incident underscores the increasing role of drone warfare in the ongoing conflict and signals Moscow’s growing drone production capacity—potentially reaching 1,000 drone launches per day.