Russia launched nearly 500 drones and missiles at Ukraine—its largest air attack since the war began—intensifying conflict on multiple fronts.
At a Glance
- An unprecedented 479 Shahed drones and 20 missiles were launched by Russia in a single night.
- Ukrainian forces intercepted roughly 460 drones and 19 missiles across multiple regions.
- A military airfield near Dubno was damaged, with one person injured in the strikes.
- Poland scrambled NATO jets to secure its airspace amid the bombardment.
- The strike followed Ukraine’s drone raid deep inside Russian territory on June 1.
Scale of the Attack
Russia unleashed a record-setting aerial bombardment overnight, deploying 479 Iranian-made Shahed drones and roughly 20 missiles against targets across Ukraine. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that around 460 drones and 19 missiles were intercepted by air defense systems. Despite this, a number of drones penetrated defenses, damaging a military airfield near Dubno in western Ukraine and injuring one person.
Strategic Escalation
The assault came in apparent retaliation for Ukraine’s deep drone strike on June 1, which targeted air bases hundreds of miles inside Russian territory and reportedly damaged several strategic bombers. That operation, known as “Spider’s Web,” has shifted the air war dynamic and prompted Moscow’s forceful response. Simultaneously, Russian ground forces are advancing along a 600-mile front, intensifying pressure on Ukraine’s eastern and northeastern defenses.
Watch a report: Russia’s surge of 479 drones at Ukraine.
Regional Alarm and Response
Ukraine’s robust air defense grid, bolstered by Western technology and electronic warfare, absorbed the brunt of the attack. Yet even minor breaches, like the one at Dubno airfield, raise concern. In response to the widespread air activity, Poland scrambled NATO aircraft to guard its airspace, underscoring the risk of conflict spilling over into allied territory. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has since called for a “quantum leap” in Europe’s integrated air defense posture.
Rising Stakes and Next Moves
The scale and coordination of this attack highlight Russia’s expanding reliance on drone warfare to project force and test Ukraine’s defenses. Kyiv has warned that such saturation tactics could eventually overwhelm even advanced systems, urging allies for more interceptor deliveries and radar upgrades. Meanwhile, Russia’s show of force serves both retaliatory and psychological aims—signaling capability and intent as peace talks in Istanbul stall and the battlefield heats up. With prisoner swaps continuing but diplomacy failing, both sides appear locked into deeper escalation.
