Russia Launches Largest Drone And Missile Attack Yet Against Ukraine

Two days after President Donald Trump said he was “disappointed” with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russia bombarded Ukraine with its largest drone attack of the war. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claims that 741 aerial vehicles participated in the attack on Tuesday night and into the early hours of Wednesday morning, with the Ukrainian Air Force reporting a mix of 728 attack drones and decoys, as well as 13 missiles. According to the Air Force, 711 drones and seven missiles were neutralized, with impacts recorded in at least four locations. 

The northwestern Volyn region, in which the city of Lutsk is located, was the primary target, and Zelensky stated that damage was recorded in ten other cities: Dnipro, Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, and Chernihiv. 

A new massive Russian attack on our cities. It was the highest number of aerial targets in a single day: 741 targets – 728 drones of various types, including over 300 shaheds, and 13 missiles – Kinzhals and Iskanders. Most of the targets were shot down. Our interceptor drones… pic.twitter.com/Lxa5TdYVXT

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 9, 2025

“This is a telling attack,” Zelensky wrote on X. “It comes precisely at a time when so many efforts have been made to achieve peace, to establish a ceasefire, and yet only Russia continues to rebuff them all.”

He called the assault “massive” and painted it as a sign that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not interested in the United States-led effort to end the war.

“This is yet another proof of the need for sanctions — biting sanctions against oil, which has been fueling Moscow’s war machine with money for over three years of the war,” he said. “Secondary sanctions on those who buy this oil and thereby sponsor killings.”

“Our partners know how to apply pressure in a way that will force Russia to think about ending the war, not launching new strikes. Everyone who wants peace must act.”

According to ABC News, June took the record for the most long-range drones and missiles launched into Ukraine — 5,438 and 239, respectively. On Monday, President Donald Trump announced plans to resume weapons shipments to Ukraine after they were paused due to concerns about U.S. stockpiles. 

“They are getting hit very hard. … We’re gonna have to send more weapons,” he said, then later added: “I’m disappointed, frankly, that President Putin hasn’t stopped.” 

Ukraine also launched attacks on Russia throughout Tuesday night. The Defense Ministry in Moscow said they destroyed 86 Ukrainian drones, 4 of which were over the Moscow region. Flight restrictions were temporarily enforced at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport. 

On Tuesday, Zelensky stated that he had ordered his defense officials to intensify contacts with the United States regarding continued military aid. 

“[This primarily concerns] air defense, as well as all other elements of supply from the U.S.,” he said in his nightly video address, according to Reuters. 

“These are critical deliveries that mean saving lives and protecting Ukrainian cities and villages. I expect results from these contacts very soon. And this week, we are preparing formats for meetings of our military and political teams.”