Ukrainian forces conducted one of the largest drone assaults on Russia since the start of the invasion more than four years ago, launching nearly 800 drones just two days after a similar aerial attack, officials reported Tuesday. Concurrently, a Russian missile strike on a village in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region claimed the lives of at least 10 civilians and injured eight others, demolishing homes.
The two nations are engaged in an intensifying exchange of long-range aerial strikes, a strategy analysts attribute to the prevalence of drones and ground robots that hinder troop movements along the approximately 1,250-kilometer (780-mile) front line in eastern and southern Ukraine.
Ukrainian Drone Offensive
Over the past year, Ukraine has developed and deployed domestically produced long-range drones for strikes deep within Russian territory. The advancements in Ukrainian drone technology have garnered attention from governments and defense manufacturers globally. Ukrainian officials state their objective is to make Russian citizens feel the war's impact and pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin into peace negotiations. Putin, however, has given no indication of ceasing the invasion. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha criticized Putin on X, stating, "Putin continues to drag out the war instead of accepting Ukraine’s realistic ceasefire proposals and ending the bloodshed."
Russia's Defense Ministry reported that its air defenses intercepted 791 Ukrainian drones overnight over various Russian regions, annexed Crimea, and the Black and Azov seas. This figure represents the second-largest drone attack since January 2025, according to an Associated Press tally. Over 600 drones were directed toward the Moscow region, with 180 shot down, according to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, who provided no further details. Officials have reported no fatalities or significant damage from the drone attacks in Russia.
In the Moscow region surrounding the capital, three individuals sustained injuries, as reported by Governor Andrei Vorobyov. The overnight attack also ignited a fire at a warehouse belonging to Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, located in an industrial zone. Ukraine has previously targeted the company's depots, alleging they supply the Russian military. Wildberries stated that its facility suffered "insignificant damage."
Russian Missile Attack in Kharkiv
In Ukraine's Kharkiv region, a Russian missile strike on the village of Pechenihy resulted in the deaths of 10 civilians, according to preliminary information from Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv regional military administration. An additional 17 people were wounded. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack as "a brutal attack" that damaged 10 homes, a cafe, a post office, a store, and at least seven vehicles, Syniehubov added. "We will definitely respond to this Russian strike," Zelenskyy stated on social media.
Separately, in Ukraine’s Sumy region, three people were killed and three others injured over the past day due to Russian attacks, which included drone strikes and an explosive device detonation, according to Ukraine’s National Police.