Russia’s latest overnight attack on Ukraine marked a grim milestone in the war: 728 drones and decoy munitions were launched in a single wave, the highest number in a single assault since the full-scale invasion began. The attack, aimed at cities in western Ukraine, came just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump publicly criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for stalling peace efforts, calling Moscow’s rhetoric “meaningless.”

Iranian Tech, Russian Production, African Labor

The surge in drone attacks is powered by Russia’s expanded production capabilities. Since signing a $1.75 billion deal with Iran in November 2022, Moscow has been manufacturing Shahed drones domestically, incorporating Iranian designs, source code, and production equipment.

At the heart of this effort is the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan, where factories staffed partly by African laborers and supplied with Chinese components are now producing over 5,000 drones and decoys each month. Kyiv says Russia has also improved the drones’ performance, making them quieter and more maneuverable than the Iranian originals.

Strategic Saturation and Civilian Fear

Wednesday’s attack targeted military and logistical sites, but also sowed panic across Ukrainian cities. Air-raid sirens forced residents into shelters once again, as Russian drone swarms increasingly include decoy drones designed to confuse Ukraine’s defenses and drain valuable interceptor supplies.

“These are record-breaking numbers,” said Yuriy Ihnat, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s air force. “They want to overwhelm us. But we’re adapting fast.”

Despite high success rates in intercepting the drones, damage to warehouses and infrastructure was reported. Ukrainian defenses are increasingly relying on electronic warfare to disable the decoys without wasting missiles.

Escalation Tied to Geopolitical Strains

The massive drone assault came shortly after a phone call between Trump and Putin, which reportedly ended with Trump expressing frustration over Putin’s lack of commitment to ceasefire negotiations. Trump later told reporters the U.S. is “getting a lot of bulls—” from the Russian side.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the remarks, saying Moscow remains “fairly calm” about Trump’s criticism.

Moscow’s drone expansion also comes amid concerns over the reliability of Iran as a supplier following Israeli strikes on Iranian drone infrastructure. Russian officials have responded by decentralizing production across the country and adapting tactics to stretch Ukrainian defenses.

Drone War Goes Both Ways

Ukraine has responded with its own drone strikes into Russian territory, including an attack on a beach in Kursk this week that killed three civilians, according to Russian authorities. Kyiv did not comment on the strike.

With little sign of a diplomatic breakthrough, the aerial battle now hinges on volume, adaptation, and attrition—testing Ukraine’s endurance and air-defense ingenuity against Russia’s sprawling drone industry.