Ukraine sends hundreds of drones into Russia as Moscow hits Ukrainian cities
Russia said it intercepted 660 Ukrainian drones overnight, while Ukrainian officials reported deadly Russian strikes across several regions.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
3 min read
Ukraine mounted a large overnight drone operation against targets across Russia, Russian-held Crimea and nearby waters, while Russia struck multiple Ukrainian regions. The dueling attacks showed both sides widening long-range strikes as the war continues into its fifth year.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said Friday that its air defenses intercepted 660 Ukrainian drones over a dozen Russian regions, Crimea and surrounding seas. The figure, if accurate, would make the attack one of Ukraine’s largest drone barrages since Russia began its full-scale invasion more than four years ago.
The ministry said a previous large Ukrainian drone attack over the past year involved 556 drones on May 17. Ukraine has expanded its long-range drone program and has used it to target Russian oil, energy and military-linked facilities far from the front, according to Western officials and analysts.
Reports of strikes in Russia and Crimea
Russia’s Defense Ministry did not identify the targets of the Ukrainian operation or give a damage assessment. Russian authorities often report interceptions without describing what was hit.
The independent Russian outlet Astra reported that a chemical plant and a hydroelectric facility in Novomoskovsk were attacked and caught fire. The Associated Press said it could not independently confirm that report, and there was no official confirmation.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 47 Ukrainian drones were shot down while approaching the Russian capital. He did not report casualties or damage.
Ukraine’s Security Service said its drones struck Russian navy ships and air defense radars in Kerch, a key port city in Russian-held Crimea. The agency said the targets included the reconnaissance and minelaying ships Volga and Vyatka, as well as the cargo-passenger ferry Petropavlovsk, and claimed the strikes caused a large fire. The claim could not be independently verified.
Zelenskyy signals more pressure on Russia
The attack followed a post on X by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said he had ordered a “40-day influence operation” intended to push Russia to end the war. The Associated Press reported the phrase was understood to suggest an escalation of attacks after U.S.-led peace efforts over the past year failed to produce a breakthrough.
Even as the strikes continued, officials said Russia and Ukraine carried out a prisoner exchange Friday. Each side received 160 prisoners of war.
Zelenskyy has said Ukraine secured additional commitments of foreign support at a recent Group of Seven summit, including from U.S. President Donald Trump. He said that support would help Ukraine increase pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate.
Ukraine reports deaths and injuries from Russian attacks
Ukrainian officials said Russian attacks killed at least three civilians and wounded 29 others. Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv region, said two people were killed and seven wounded in strikes over the previous 24 hours, with Russian forces hitting Kharkiv city and 16 other settlements.
Ukraine’s emergency services said a Russian drone attack Friday morning on downtown Izium, also in the Kharkiv region, killed a woman and injured three people. Authorities said strikes in Kyiv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia and Sumy wounded at least 19 people, including a 9-year-old, and that some attacks involved glide bombs and hit gas stations.
Ukraine’s air force said its defenses stopped 174 of 189 Russian drones overnight. It said four of seven Iskander-M ballistic missiles penetrated air defenses and hit locations across Ukraine.
Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service also said Friday that Russia is expanding military sites deep inside Belarus, but that Ukrainian intelligence has not detected a buildup of Russian forces near the Ukrainian border. Spokesman Andrii Demchenko told Ukrainian television that Kyiv continues to watch Belarus closely because Russia used Belarusian territory to launch part of its 2022 invasion.
This story draws on original reporting from NPR.