Ukraine claims to have attacked a Russian air base, while Russia purportedly dispatched numerous drones toward Kyiv.
In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict, Russia has launched a record number of drone attacks against Ukraine, with a staggering 5,438 drones deployed in June 2025 alone. This represents a 16-fold increase compared to June 2024, according to reports.
The majority of the Russian drones are Iranian-made Shaheds, as well as Russian Gerans (copies) and the newer Garpiya-A1 models incorporating Chinese components. These drone strikes have become more frequent and intense, with some single-day attacks involving hundreds of drones.
Ukraine's air defenses have shown substantial success in intercepting and destroying these Russian drones and missiles. During a large-scale Russian attack employing nearly 500 drones and missiles, Ukraine's air defenses managed to down 277 drones and 19 missiles. In a notable operation dubbed "Operation Spiderweb," Ukrainian forces used drones hidden inside trucks to destroy 41 Russian aircraft, including a significant portion of Russia’s cruise missile carriers.
The intensification of drone warfare has resulted in significant civilian and military casualties, prompting vigorous Ukrainian air defense and counter-drone operations. Notably, 25 apartments were damaged by Ukrainian drones in the city of Engels, Saratov region, according to local officials, while no damage, injuries, or deaths were reported in the Khmelnytskyi region.
The main target of the drone attack was Ukraine's western Khmelnytskyi region. The attack on a Russian air base in the city aims to dent Russia's military capability and demonstrate Ukraine's capability to hit high-value targets in Russia. However, Russian officials have yet to comment on the attack.
In a phone call with US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed strengthening Ukrainian air defenses, potential joint weapons production between the US and Ukraine, and broader US-led efforts to end the war with Russia. Trump acknowledged the call, expressing uncertainty about finding a way to end the fighting, saying "I don't know. I can't tell you whether or not that's going to happen."
As the conflict continues, Ukraine's main European backers are considering how they can help pick up the slack in military aid. Meanwhile, Zelensky plans to build up Ukraine's domestic arms industry, but scaling up will take time. The recent assault in the Khmelnytskyi region has resulted in two fatalities and 31 injuries, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
References: [1] BBC News. (2025). Russia-Ukraine conflict: Drone warfare intensifies. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-61496471
[2] The Washington Post. (2025). Russia's drone attacks on Ukraine are increasing dramatically. [online] Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/2025/07/01/russias-drone-attacks-ukraine-are-increasing-dramatically/
[3] Reuters. (2025). Ukraine says it shot down 277 Russian drones in major attack. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-says-it-shot-down-277-russian-drones-major-attack-2025-06-29/
[4] The Guardian. (2025). Russia's drone warfare: what you need to know. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/01/russias-drone-warfare-what-you-need-to-know
- The escalation of war-and-conflicts in Europe, specifically the Russia-Ukraine conflict, has seen a surge in drone attacks, with the world witnessing a record number of drone deployments by Russia in June 2025, as reported.
- Amidst this intensified drone warfare, there have been significant general-news events, such as Ukraine's successful counter-drone operations and the destruction of Russian aircraft using their domestic drones, as demonstrated in Operation Spiderweb.
- The frequent drone attacks have also led to accidents and civilian casualties, with Europe witnessing damages in cities like Engels, Saratov region, and fatalities and injuries in Ukraine's Khmelnytskyi region, according to local officials and Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
