Russia launched a record 188 drones at Ukraine overnight, Kyiv reported Tuesday, marking an intensifying escalation in the ongoing conflict as international concerns grow over potential Russian missile strikes on European cities. The attack comes amid heightened tensions between Moscow and the West, with Ukraine recently deploying US-supplied long-range missiles in retaliation, and Russia testing an experimental hypersonic missile.
Ukraine’s air force reported that 76 of the Russian drones were intercepted across 17 regions, while another 95 were lost to radar jamming or shot down. Despite the heavy defensive efforts, the attack still resulted in damage to critical infrastructure, including residential buildings in several regions.
The barrage included Iranian-made Shahed strike drones, with Moscow also launching four Iskander-M ballistic missiles. Although Kyiv managed to down 10 drones over the capital, the strikes caused power outages in western regions like Ternopil, where a key infrastructure facility was hit.
President Vladimir Putin stated that the missile strikes were retaliation for Ukrainian attacks using Western-supplied weapons, including US and British munitions. He emphasized that Russia felt “entitled” to target military facilities in countries allowing such weapon usage against Moscow.
In Brussels, Ukraine and NATO ambassadors were set to meet, addressing the recent Russian missile launch on Dnipro and seeking NATO’s continued support amid the escalating threat. While NATO officials downplayed expectations for immediate results, they reiterated that Russia’s new weaponry would not deter the alliance’s backing of Ukraine.
As Ukrainian forces struggle to halt Russian advances in the east, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for enhanced air defense systems to counter the growing missile and drone threats, describing the recent attacks as part of a broader “Russian madness.”
