Russia launches biggest drone attack on Ukraine since start of war — with almost 500 individual strikes
Russia has launched its biggest drone attack on Ukraine since the start of the war with almost 500 individual strikes, a day after US officials warned that such a retaliation from Moscow was likely.
A total of 479 drones and 20 missiles were launched at Ukraine by Russian forces overnight, the Ukrainian air force said in a statement on Monday.
All but 19 of the drones and one of the missiles were successfully downed by Ukrainian units, the air force's statement continued.
3 In this video grab taken from a handout footage released by the Russian Defence Ministry on June 9, 2025, Russian prisoners of war (POWs) react sitting in a bus following an exchange at an undisclosed location in Belarus.
Russian Defence Ministry/AFP via Getty Images
3 Ukraine launched 'Operation Spiderweb' on Sunday, June 1, 2025, targeting Belaya Air Base in Russia's Irkutsk region in Siberia, approximately 3,000 miles from Ukraine.
Ministry of Defense of Ukraine/UPI/Shutterstock
Damage was caused to a military airfield in the city of Dubno, just 40 miles from Ukraine's western border with Poland, which was the main Russian target, air force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat told Reuters.
Polish and other allied aircraft were activated early on Monday to ensure the safety of the NATO member's airspace, Poland's armed forces said in a statement.
3 A resident stands at the site of the Russian air strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine June 9, 2025.
REUTERS
The record attacks were in response to Kyiv's devastating strikes on Russian bases earlier this month, Russia's Defense Ministry said on Monday.
'All designated targets' were hit, a statement from the ministry claimed.
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