Russia launched one of its largest overnight aerial assaults in recent weeks, firing 477 drones and 60 missiles across Ukraine, according to Ukrainian military officials. The widespread attack, which left a trail of destruction across multiple regions, also claimed the life of a Ukrainian F-16 fighter pilot.
The Ukrainian Air Force said 211 drones and 38 missiles were intercepted during the assault, which targeted residential buildings, infrastructure, and industrial sites in at least six regions including Lviv, Poltava, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy, and Ivano-Frankivsk.
“To repel the massive attack, all available means of the defence forces that can operate on enemy air assets were deployed,” the military said in a statement on Sunday.
In Cherkasy, six people, including a child, were injured when strikes hit multi-storey buildings and a college, regional governor Ihor Taburets confirmed. In Ivano-Frankivsk, one woman was injured. Industrial facilities were hit in Mykolaiv and Dnipropetrovsk, while authorities in Lviv reported damage to critical infrastructure but did not provide further details.
Images shared by local officials showed buildings with shattered windows, burnt facades, and emergency crews working to evacuate residents.
The assault also led to the loss of a third F-16 fighter jet, Ukrainian officials said. The pilot, who was engaged in repelling the air raid, reportedly shot down seven aerial targets before his aircraft sustained damage. “While shooting down the last one, his aircraft was damaged and began to lose altitude. The pilot did everything he could to steer the jet away from a settlement but did not have time to eject,” the Air Force said in a statement.
President Volodymyr Zelensky renewed his calls for enhanced Western support following the attack, urging allies to strengthen Ukraine’s air defence capabilities.
“This war must be brought to an end – pressure on the aggressor is needed, and so is protection. Protection from ballistic and other missiles, from drones, and from terror. Ukraine needs to strengthen its air defence – the thing that best protects lives,” Zelensky said on social media.
He added that in just one week, Russia had deployed over 1,270 drones, more than 114 missiles, and nearly 1,100 glide bombs. Ukrainian military officials estimated that 225 of the drones used in the latest attack were either decoys or lost due to electronic warfare.
At a recent meeting in The Hague, Zelensky called for urgent action from the United States and its allies, including support from former U.S. President Donald Trump for the sale of additional Patriot missile batteries.
The Ukrainian Air Force has not disclosed how many F-16 jets are currently in operation, but the aircraft are seen as a vital component of Ukraine’s evolving air defence strategy.
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