Russia launched its most significant aerial strike against Ukraine since the war began, according to Ukrainian officials on Sunday. The attack, which involved 537 aerial weapons, was described as ‘the most massive airstrike’ against Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022. Among these weapons, 226 were likely destroyed or jammed, with 249 being shot down by Ukraine’s air force.
The attack targeted several regions, including western Ukraine, which is far from the front lines. This indicates a broader strategy by Russia to expand its military operations beyond the current front lines. In response, Poland and its allied countries scrambled aircraft to protect their airspace, highlighting the growing concern over the spread of conflict. The attack also resulted in casualties, with one person killed in a drone strike in Kherson and another in Kharkiv. A child was among the injured in Cherkasy.
In the Lviv region, a large industrial facility caught fire in Drohobych following a drone attack that also cut electricity to parts of the city. Ukraine’s air force also reported the tragic loss of a pilot when one of its F-16 warplanes, supplied by the West, crashed after sustaining damage during a training exercise.
The escalation comes against the backdrop of ongoing peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, with Russian President Vladimir Putin indicating that Moscow is ready for another round of direct peace talks in Istanbul. However, as past rounds have shown, these efforts have not yet led to any breakthroughs in the conflict. The situation remains fluid, with no clear signs of an end to the war in sight.