
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.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Musk regrets some of his Trump criticisms, says they 'went too far'
Musk regrets some of his Trump criticisms, says they 'went too far' Elon Musk, the world's richest person and Donald Trump's former advisor, says he regretted some of his recent criticisms of the US president (Kevin Dietsch) (Kevin Dietsch/GETTY IMAGESvia AFP) Elon Musk, the world's richest person and Donald Trump's former advisor, said Wednesday he regretted some of his recent criticisms of the US president, after the pair's public falling-out last week. "I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far," Musk wrote on his social media platform X, in a message that was received favorably by the White House. Musk's expression of regret came just days after Trump threatened the tech billionaire with "serious consequences" if he sought to punish Republicans who vote for a controversial spending bill. Their blistering break-up -- largely carried out on social media before a riveted public since Thursday last week -- was ignited by Musk's harsh criticism of Trump's so-called "big, beautiful" spending bill, which is currently before Congress. ADVERTISEMENT Some lawmakers who were against the bill had called on Musk -- one of the Republican Party's biggest financial backers in last year's presidential election -- to fund primary challenges against Republicans who voted for the legislation. "He'll have to pay very serious consequences if he does that," Trump, who also branded Musk "disrespectful," told NBC News on Saturday, without specifying what those consequences would be. Trump also said he had "no" desire to repair his relationship with the South African-born Tesla and SpaceX chief, and that he has "no intention of speaking to him." But after Musk's expression of regret, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Trump was "appreciative," adding that "no efforts" had been made on a threat by Trump to end some of Musk's government contracts. "The president acknowledged the statement that Elon put out this morning, and he is appreciative of it," Leavitt said. ADVERTISEMENT According to the New York Times, Musk's message followed a phone call to Trump late on Monday night. Vice President JD Vance and Chief of Staff Susan Wiles had also been working with Musk on how to broker a truce with Trump, the report said. - 'Wish him well' - In his post on Wednesday, Musk did not specify which of his criticisms of Trump had gone "too far." The former allies had seemed to have cut ties amicably about two weeks ago, with Trump giving Musk a glowing send-off as he left his cost-cutting role at the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). But their relationship cracked within days, with Musk describing the spending bill as an "abomination" that, if passed by Congress, could define Trump's second term in office. Trump hit back at Musk's comments in an Oval Office diatribe and from there the row detonated, leaving Washington stunned. ADVERTISEMENT Trump later said on his Truth Social platform that cutting billions of dollars in subsidies and contracts to Musk's companies would be the "easiest way" to save the US government money. US media have put the value of the contracts at $18 billion. With real political and economic risks to their falling out, both already appeared to inch back from the brink on Friday, with Trump telling reporters "I just wish him well," and Musk responding on X: "Likewise." Trump had spoken to NBC on Saturday after Musk deleted one of the explosive allegations he had made during their fallout, linking the president with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was accused of sex trafficking. bur-arp/aha
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Zelensky urges 'stronger' EU sanctions on Russia, lower oil price cap
President Volodymyr Zelensky on June 11 called on the European Union to impose tougher sanctions against Russia, arguing that stronger financial pressure is necessary to curb Moscow's war effort. Speaking at the Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit in Odesa, Zelensky said the upcoming 18th EU sanctions package "could be stronger," especially in targeting Russian oil tankers and the financial sector. He urged the EU to further reduce the price cap on Russian oil exports. "A ceiling of $45 per barrel of oil is better than $60, that's clear, that's true. But real peace will come with a ceiling of $30," he said. "That's the level that will really change the mindset in Moscow." After the 17th package of sanctions against Russia took effect on May 20, Ukraine's allies announced the following day that another round of restrictions was already in the works. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on June 10 that the EU is considering lowering the oil price cap from $60 to $45 per barrel — a measure that will be discussed at the upcoming G7 summit in Canada on June 15–17. The Kremlin's budget is increasingly strained by soaring military expenditures, with Russia's Finance Ministry relying heavily on energy revenues to fund the war against Ukraine. The push for tighter sanctions comes as Russia continues to reject ceasefire proposals and presses forward with military operations. Zelensky warned that Odesa remains one of Russia's "main targets," with plans to push beyond it toward the borders with Romania and Moldova. "Russia wants to destroy it, as it has done with countless cities and villages in the occupied territories," he said. "Russian military plans point to this region — Odesa — and then to the border with Moldova and Romania." Odesa is a major port city in southern Ukraine, located on the northwestern coast of the Black Sea. The president warned of possible destabilization efforts in the broader region, comparing the Kremlin's strategy to its previous interference in the Balkans. "We saw this before in the Balkans, where Russia intensified interethnic friction, carried out sabotage, and even attempted coups," Zelensky said. The Odesa summit was attended by several southeastern European leaders, including Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Romania's newly elected President Nicusor Dan. Vucic's trip marked his first official visit to Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. Read also: Ukrainian drones strike targets in Russia, including gunpowder plant, General Staff says We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ukraine bracing for 'painful' reduction in US military aid after Hegseth announces cuts
Editor's note: For security reasons, the real names of the soldiers mentioned in this story have not been used. A reduction in U.S. military aid to Ukraine would be "painful" and could have potentially "dire consequences" for the global order, Ukrainian lawmakers and soldiers have told the Kyiv Independent. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on June 10 signalled the move is almost certain to happen as he discussed Washington's defense budget for 2026 during a congressional hearing. Highlighting the Trump administration's "very different view" of the war in Ukraine compared to that of Joe Biden's, Hegseth insisted a "negotiated peaceful settlement is in the best interest of both parties and our nation's interests." Though he didn't reveal specific details of the cuts, Ukraine is already bracing for its effects and looking for options to fill the likely sizable gap in support, lawmaker Iryna Friz, a parliamentary committee member on national security, defense, and intelligence, told the Kyiv Independent. Friz said there is a "whole range" of military aid that Ukraine simply cannot obtain from other Western allies, and any reduction in these capabilities will be "painful." "But I am convinced that instead of being emotionally affected by such statements (from Hegseth) or frustrated, Ukraine must demonstrate its readiness to strengthen its defense capabilities and increase communication with its partners to continue to defend its sovereignty," Friz added. With U.S. President Donald Trump's return to the White House, Washington has sharply shifted its policy toward Ukraine. Even though Ukraine still receives military aid approved by the Biden administration, and intelligence continues to flow, Trump has already temporarily halted both once, and no new aid packages have been announced in the almost five months of Trump's presidency. Ukraine continues to hold the line against Russia's grinding and slow advances, but any reduction in U.S. aid will likely affect Kyiv's ability to fight back against Moscow's forces, as well as undermining ongoing U.S.-led peace efforts. "This reduction of military support might undermine our defensive capabilities, which, in turn, might translate into more casualties both among our soldiers and civilians," lawmaker Oleksandr Merezhko, the chair of the parliament's foreign affairs policy, told the Kyiv Independent. "When (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is preparing for a summer offensive, according to some sources, it sends the wrong signal, because Putin might take it as encouragement to double down on the war efforts," Merezhko added. Read also: Ukraine's SBU releases fresh video of Operation Spiderweb, teases 'new surprises' Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the U.S. has given Ukraine around $74 billion in military aid, and has provided weapons that have changed the course of events both on the front line and in cities hundreds of kilometers away from it. Washington has sent Ukraine several million rounds of ammunition, tanks, armored vehicles, long-range ATACMS missiles, HIMARS, and cutting-edge Patriot air defense systems that are Ukraine's only effective defense against Russian ballistic missiles. But under the Trump administration, as well as not receiving new military aid packages, some weapons that were intended for Ukrainian troops have been diverted elsewhere. According to Zelensky, while then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was in the office, the U.S. pledged to give Ukraine 20,000 missiles to defend against Shahed-type drones, which Russia launches almost every night against Ukrainian cities. "It was inexpensive, but it is a special technology. We were counting on these 20,000 missiles," Zelensky said in an interview with ABC published on June 8. "This morning, my defense minister told me that the U.S. has moved them to the Middle East." Ukrainian soldiers interviewed by The Kyiv Independent criticized Washington's recent moves but were not surprised. "Trump and his entire team are ridiculous cowards. They want to make a deal with (Vladimir) Putin on his terms and sacrifice part of Ukraine. It is more profitable for them," Bart, a Special Forces sniper fighting in Ukraine's East, said. "Reducing American aid is bad for the front line. We depend on it, on their intelligence," he added. Ihor, a Ukrainian soldier who also serves on the eastern front, echoed Bart's stance, adding the new U.S. policies will have "dire consequences" for the global order. "The U.S. is positioning itself as weak, which will allow dictatorships worldwide to increase pressure (on other countries), and America will not interfere," he said. In light of the U.S,'s shifting stance, Ukraine's European allies have pledged to step up military support but countries on the continent are dogged by a decades-long underinvestment in defense production capability. Ukraine is therefore looking for other options, such as developing its own domestic military production and purchasing American weapons with the help of European partners. In early June, a Ukrainian delegation led by Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak visited the U.S. to discuss further support for Ukraine's defense and potential purchases of American weapons. "We are ready to buy some of it, especially missile defense equipment. The congressmen understand (the issue) and want to move forward with providing Ukraine with everything it needs," Yermak said on June 6 on national television. However, following the Ukrainian delegation's visit, there has been no further action or response from Washington on potential arms supplies or weapons sales to Ukraine and its allies. Natalia Yermak contributed to this story. Read also: America's weak strongman We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.