KYIV (Reuters) – President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, revealed on Sunday that Russia orchestrated a massive drone attack during the night, deploying over 200 drones in what marked the largest aerial assault of the ongoing conflict. Condemning Russia’s “aerial terror,” Zelenskiy urged for unified support from Ukraine’s allies during this critical time.
In a public statement, Zelenskiy stated, “Every day, our brave citizens confront the horrors of aerial attacks.” He further highlighted the significance of the timing, noting that this aggression occurred on the eve of the third anniversary of the full-scale conflict, with Russia launching an unprecedented onslaught of 267 attack drones against Ukraine. This marked a significant escalation since the commencement of Iranian drone strikes on Ukrainian territories.
Ukraine’s air force promptly responded to the threat, managing to down 138 of the hostile drones, while an additional 119 drones disappeared from radar tracking due to electronic countermeasures. In conjunction with the drone assault, Russia also launched three ballistic missiles, resulting in damages across five regions of Ukraine.
The relentless barrage of drone attacks conducted by Moscow in recent months has put a strain on Ukraine’s air defense capabilities, with Zelenskiy revealing that a staggering total of nearly 1,150 attack drones, over 1,400 precision-guided aerial bombs, and 35 missiles were launched by Russia against Ukraine within the past week alone.
Expressing gratitude towards those manning Ukraine’s air defense systems, Zelenskiy called upon the solidarity of the nation’s international partners to forge a path towards a just and enduring peace. He emphasized, “The attainment of lasting peace hinges on the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders – we require the staunch support of Europe, America, and all those committed to preserving peace.”
As tensions continue to escalate, Kyiv and its European allies have been unsettled by recent disparaging remarks directed at Zelenskiy by the newly inaugurated U.S. President, Donald Trump. Moreover, the exclusion of Ukraine from a pivotal meeting between U.S. and Russian delegations in Riyadh has further exacerbated concerns among the Ukrainian leadership and its allies.
(Reporting by Max Hunder; Editing by David Goodman and Susan Fenton)
