Russia launched another large-scale drone attack against Ukraine overnight, deploying nearly 300 drones across several regions as Kyiv simultaneously confirmed the return of the bodies of 528 fallen Ukrainian soldiers.
According to Ukrainian officials, the attacks targeted multiple areas of the country, including Kyiv and western regions close to NATO borders. Ukrainian air defence systems intercepted the majority of the drones, but several strikes caused damage to civilian infrastructure and renewed fears of a prolonged escalation in aerial warfare.
The latest assault comes amid a sharp increase in Russian drone operations in recent weeks. Ukrainian authorities say Moscow has increasingly shifted toward large-scale daytime drone attacks designed to overwhelm air defences and exhaust Ukraine’s military resources. Analysts say the strategy reflects Russia’s growing drone production capacity and an effort to intensify psychological pressure on the civilian population.
At the same time, Kyiv announced that the bodies of 528 Ukrainian soldiers had been returned as part of a wartime repatriation agreement with Russia. The exchange was described as one of the largest of the war
The attacks took place just a few days after the end of a brief ceasefire brokered by the United States in connection with Russia’s Victory Day celebrations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Moscow of undermining diplomatic efforts by intensifying strikes on cities and civilian infrastructure, while Russia insists military operations will continue until its strategic objectives are met.
