Russia resumes aggression against Ukraine through the deployment of combat drones - Russia resumes attacks on Ukraine via combat drones
In the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, the air defense systems of Ukraine have been under significant strain due to the escalation of drone and missile attacks from the Russian side. The air defense network, a mix of legacy Soviet systems and Western-supplied equipment, has been crucial in defending the country, but the increasing volume and sophistication of Russian strikes have posed challenges [1][4].
Ukraine has received air defense systems such as Patriot, IRIS-T, NASAMS, MIM-23 Hawk, and modified Soviet systems enhanced with Western missile technology to improve its air defense capabilities against missiles, drones, and aircraft [2]. Projects like the Pentagon's "FrankenSAM" initiative have adapted older systems to fire modern Western missiles, enhancing the layered defense capability [2].
However, the US has temporarily halted the delivery of some critical air defense munitions and missiles to Ukraine, citing concerns about stock levels and reallocation of resources due to other global conflicts. This pause may reduce Ukraine's ability to replenish and expand its air defense arsenal amid the intensified Russian attacks [3][4].
Despite these challenges, Ukrainian forces have successfully used interception drones to defend against massive Russian attacks on Kyiv, such as the one that occurred in late June 2025, where only one of seven Iskander-M/KN-23 missiles and none of four Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles were successfully shot down [1]. However, the success rate in intercepting high-speed ballistic missiles during these attacks has been limited [1].
Russia has escalated its tactics by launching large drone swarms and missile salvos targeting civilian areas, with Kyiv experiencing a sharp rise in drone numbers—from 35 in January 2025 to 285 in June 2025—accompanied by significant civilian casualties [1]. The city of Kupiansk, for instance, reported two injuries in a drone attack, while at least three people, including a 12-year-old boy, were injured in a drone attack in the eastern Ukrainian city of Chuhuiv [1].
Repeated air raid alerts have been reported in many parts of Ukraine, including the border region of Sumy in the north, Donetsk and Kharkiv in the east, and Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia in the southeast [1]. The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, has been under Russian control since March 2022, but the IAEA has been permanently present at the plant since September 2022, monitoring its status and safety [1].
In a bid to strengthen its air defenses, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for more air defense equipment, including advanced US systems like Patriots, to counter the increasing volume and sophistication of Russian strikes [1][4]. As of mid-2025, these air defense systems remain a crucial element in defending the country, but the recent delays in weapons shipments present a significant obstacle to sustaining and improving these defenses [1][2][3][4].
- The Commission, in light of the ongoing political tensions and general news involving war-and-conflicts, such as the Ukraine-Russia conflict, has also been consulted on the draft budget for the period 2007-2013, considering the increased need for funding in areas like air defense and security.
- Amidst the escalating missile and drone attacks in Ukraine, the political implications extend beyond the border, with the prospect of continued war-and-conflicts contributing to instability in the region and strain on international relations, influencing general news discussions worldwide.
