Russia's Biggest Drones Attack on Ukraine: A Chaotic Night for Kyiv
Ukraine reported the largest drone attack since the war began, with a total of 479 Russian drones involved. - Largest Drone Assault on Record by Russia - Ukraine Reports Unprecedented Attack since War's Onset
Duration: 1 Min
The skies over Ukraine turned into a battlefield as Russia allegedly unleashed a record number of drone attacks on the country. According to the Air Force, on Monday morning, Ukraine was assaulted with a whopping 479 drones and an additional 20 cruise missiles. Excitingly, air defenses intercepted 460 drones and 19 cruise missiles.
The Air Force acknowledged "strikes" at ten locations, albeit offering no initial details. Notably, on June 1, the Air Force reported to the AFP news agency a nighttime Russian attack involving 472 drones - the largest attack at the time.
Northwards from Ukraine: Attacks on Western Regions in Poland
As a NATO member, Poland reported monumental Russian attacks on the western Ukrainian region of Rivne. On Monday morning, the Polish Air Force, along with allied countries, launched fighter jets in response to the aerial onslaught. The mayor of the regional capital, Rivne, Mr. Oleksandr Tretiak, claimed this was the most significant attack the region had endured so far.
While everything is chaotic, it's worth mentioning that preparations for an upcoming prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine were in the works. Scheduled initially for the weekend, recent developments show that the exchange is now expected to take place later this week.
Behind the Scenes: The Unrelenting War
Recent events reveal an intensifying Russia-Ukraine conflict, with large-scale drone and missile attacks dominating the news:
- Escalating Attacks: During the night of May 31 to June 1, Russia conducted its largest combined drone and missile strike since the beginning of the war, involving over 400 drones[3]. Further attacks, as recent as the latest wave, saw Russia launching 322 "air attack vehicles," including 315 drones and seven missiles, causing significant damage to civilian infrastructure[2].
- Unfortunate Casualties: At least eight people lost their lives during these relentless attacks, with casualties reported in Kyiv, Odesa, and frontline regions. In Odesa, a maternity hospital and an emergency medical center were among the buildings hit, and Kyiv saw one of its biggest drone attacks to date[2].
- Tactical Strategy: The regions of Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipro, and Chernihiv were targeted, with President Zelenskyy emphasizing the use of at least two North Korean-made ballistic missiles in the strikes[2].
- Ukrainian Response and Western Calls: In response to these unending attacks, President Zelenskyy made a public plea for "action from America"[2]. Ukrainian air defenses reportedly managed to shoot down or neutralize 277 drones and all incoming missiles in the latest attack[2].
On a brighter note, Ukraine counterattacked on June 1 with large-scale, simultaneous drone strikes on several Russian air bases. The strikes are reported to have destroyed or damaged at least six Tu-95 strategic bombers, four Tu-22M aircraft, and several A-50 early warning planes[1][3], adding up to a total of 41 aircraft[1].
In response to the successful Ukrainian strikes, Russia has started relocating its strategic bombers, planning to move them between bases more frequently to minimize the risk of further attacks[1]. Moscow has responded with intensified missile and drone attacks across Ukraine[2]. Internal discontent is brewing among Russian officials and military bloggers, with criticism of the leadership for their inability to adequately defend military infrastructure after the successful Ukrainian strikes[3].
A Few Words About Poland's Response: At the moment, there are no substantial, verified details about Poland's direct response to the Russian attacks on the Rivne region in western Ukraine[2][3]. Any new developments or additional information about Poland's response would require confirmation from updated official sources. In the meantime, reports focus on Ukraine's defensive and retaliatory actions, as well as calls for further international support for Ukraine [2][3].
The European Union and its Member States are closely monitoring the escalating war-and-conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, as politics surrounding the situation continue to unfold. General-news sources report intense drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities such as Kyiv, Odesa, and Dnipro, with worrying casualties and significant damage to civilian infrastructure. Meanwhile, Poland, as a NATO member, has recently faced Russian attacks on the western Ukrainian region of Rivne, prompting a joint response from the Polish Air Force and allied countries.
