Russia launched one of its biggest attacks on Ukraine overnight, using hundreds of drones and missiles in a terrifying show of force. NATO had to send out fighter jets after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the strike, which turned out to be one of the most intense assaults since the war began over three years ago.
According to Ukraine, the Russian military carried out 741 separate strikes across the country. These included 728 drone attacks, mainly using Iranian-made Shahed drones, along with seven cruise missiles and six high-speed Kinzhal hypersonic missiles. The attacks focused especially on western Ukrainian cities like Lutsk and Ternopil. The situation was so serious that NATO forces in neighboring Poland were placed on high alert and scrambled warplanes to defend their airspace.
Polish military officials confirmed that, in response to the Russian strikes near their border, all available air defense units and fighter jets were activated. Radar systems were also put into full readiness to monitor and protect the skies near the conflict zone.
Despite the size of the assault, Ukraine’s air defenses performed incredibly well. Out of the 741 attacks, 718 were either destroyed, misfired, or disabled through electronic jamming. Ukrainian forces shot down 296 drones and all seven cruise missiles. This marked a major success in defending the country from Putin’s attack.
Ukraine’s military responded with a mix of fighter jets, anti-aircraft missiles, electronic warfare, and mobile defense units to fight off the Russian air raids. The recent assault by Russia involved more weapons than any previous attack in the war.
The timing of this attack is notable because it came just after former U.S. President Donald Trump promised to send more air defense systems to Ukraine and criticized Putin for refusing to agree to a peace deal. Trump publicly said, “A lot of people are dying and it needs to stop. Putin acts nice but lies constantly.”
In Lutsk, the mayor described the attack as the most intense the city had ever seen. Fires broke out across the area, but luckily, there were no reported deaths at the time. He thanked God and praised the Ukrainian Air Defense Forces for protecting the city.
Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, was also hit. A large fireball exploded in one strike, and nearby warehouses caught fire. Hypersonic missiles even struck the city of Zhytomyr.
Ukraine did not stay silent. It launched a smaller counterattack on Russian territory, which caused panic and forced authorities to temporarily shut down two major airports in Moscow—Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo. Explosions were also heard near Moscow in areas like Zelenograd and Tula. In the Kursk region, Ukraine reportedly hit military targets. Russian officials claimed three civilians, including a five-year-old boy, were killed. The boy was said to have shielded his mother during the blast.
A Russian politician called it a “cruel and inhuman” act, saying it was done on purpose when families were enjoying a holiday. His claims, however, haven’t been independently confirmed. One report mentioned that a Russian National Guard member might be among the dead.
Meanwhile, CNN reported that Trump once told Putin that if he dared to invade Ukraine, the U.S. would bomb Moscow. Trump claimed that his threat was so serious that Putin believed him—at least partly—and it stopped him from acting at the time.
The overnight attacks show just how dangerous and intense the situation between Russia and Ukraine remains, even as world leaders continue to debate how to stop the war and protect innocent lives.
