Russia Launches Record Drone Swarm in Escalation of War

Russia launched a record-breaking attack involving 728 Shahed and decoy drones, along with 13 missiles, targeting Ukraine overnight, the Ukrainian Air Force reported Wednesday. This marks a sharp escalation in the conflict now entering its fourth year.

The western city of Lutsk, near the borders of Poland and Belarus, was the hardest hit, though President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at least 10 other regions were also targeted. Lutsk, a key military hub with airfields used frequently by Ukrainian cargo planes and fighter jets, plays a vital role in receiving foreign military aid before its distribution across the country. Russia has intensified long-range strikes to disrupt these critical supply lines.

In recent weeks, Moscow has increased both the scale and complexity of its aerial offensives, using decoy drones to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses.

This latest barrage surpasses the previous record set on the night of July 4. The drone strikes come amid renewed efforts by Russian forces to break through weakened sections of the 1,000-kilometer frontline, where Ukrainian troops are under growing pressure.

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed dissatisfaction Tuesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has remained firm on his ceasefire and peace terms since Trump took office in January.

Trump also indicated the U.S. may send additional weapons to Ukraine after a temporary pause in arms shipments raised questions about Washington’s commitment to Kyiv’s defense.

President Zelenskyy described the latest assault as a deliberate message from Moscow amid faltering U.S.-led peace efforts. He urged international partners to tighten sanctions on Russian oil and penalize those supporting Moscow’s war through energy purchases.

“Everyone who wants peace must act,” Zelenskyy said during his visit to Italy, where he was scheduled to meet Pope Leo XIV.

Ukrainian officials reported two injuries in the Kyiv region during the overnight strikes as emergency teams continued assessing the damage.

In response, Poland scrambled fighter jets and raised its military alert, according to the Polish Armed Forces Operational Command.

In Europe, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned Russia could become a serious security threat to the European Union within five years and called for rapid expansion of defense manufacturing across Europe and Ukraine.

According to Ukraine’s Air Force, 296 drones and seven missiles were intercepted overnight. Another 415 drones either crashed or were neutralized by jamming systems.

Zelenskyy highlighted growing success with domestically developed interceptor drones designed to counter Russia’s Shahed drones, with production increasing through Western partnerships.

Military analysts warn Russia is ramping up drone production and may soon be capable of launching up to 1,000 drones per night.

Ukraine has also expanded its drone operations, conducting long-range strikes deep inside Russian territory.

Russia’s Defense Ministry reported shooting down 86 Ukrainian drones across six regions, including around Moscow. As a precaution, flights were temporarily halted at Sheremetyevo and Kaluga airports.

In Russia’s Kursk region, Governor Alexander Khinshtein said a Ukrainian drone strike on the regional capital just before midnight killed three people and injured seven, including a five-year-old child.