Russia Launches Largest Aerial Onslaught on Ukraine Since Start of Invasion

Russia Launches Largest Aerial Onslaught on Ukraine Since Start of Invasion

Russia Launches Largest Aerial Onslaught on Ukraine Since Start of Invasion

It’s June 30, 2025, and what we’re witnessing in Ukraine right now is nothing short of staggering. In what Kyiv is calling the largest aerial assault of the three-year war, Russia has unleashed a devastating wave of attacks overnight—marking a new level of escalation in a conflict that already seemed to have few limits left to cross.

According to Ukraine’s air force, Russia fired an astonishing 537 aerial weapons at the country in one night. This included 477 drones and decoys, alongside 60 missiles. While Ukrainian defense systems managed to shoot down or deflect the majority—about 475 of them—the scale of the attack alone makes it the most massive airstrike since Russia’s full-scale invasion began back in February 2022.

The air raid wasn’t isolated to combat zones. Cities far from the frontlines like Kyiv, Lviv, and Drohobych were under siege. In Lviv, a drone strike sparked a massive fire at an industrial site and caused power outages. Air raid sirens echoed across Ukraine, driving families into bomb shelters and metro stations, clutching their children as explosions lit the night sky.

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Tragically, lives were lost. Ukraine confirmed multiple fatalities, including an F-16 pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Maksym Ustimenko. His aircraft sustained damage while intercepting enemy targets. Though he managed to down seven threats, his plane lost altitude before he could eject. At least four other people were killed in different regions due to missile strikes and shelling. Even more were injured—some critically—including children.

And all of this happened just days after Vladimir Putin made public comments suggesting Moscow was open to peace talks. But as President Zelenskyy pointed out, this assault shows the opposite—Putin has chosen war. The Ukrainian leader emphasized that “Moscow will not stop as long as it has the capability to launch massive strikes.” Over just one week, he said, Russia had used more than 1,270 drones, over 1,100 glide bombs, and at least 114 missiles.

Zelenskyy is now renewing his calls for stronger air defense support from Western allies. He underlined Ukraine’s willingness to purchase U.S.-made systems, stating clearly: “This war must be brought to an end – pressure on the aggressor is needed, and so is protection.”

Adding another layer of complexity, Ukraine is beginning the process of withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention, which bans the use of antipersonnel mines. The government argues that while Russia uses these weapons extensively and with impunity, Ukraine has been left at a disadvantage. A senior Ukrainian official called this move "a necessary step in the face of reality."

What’s clear today is that the war in Ukraine has entered an even more perilous phase. As diplomacy stalls, the scale and intensity of Russia’s attacks are growing. The need for action—from Ukraine’s allies and the international community at large—has never been more urgent.

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