Russia Launches Record Drone Attack on Ukraine Amid Stalled Peace Talks

PENNSYLVANIA — Russia launched its largest overnight drone bombardment of the three-year war against Ukraine, firing 479 drones and 20 missiles in a massive assault that targeted military and civilian areas across the country, Ukrainian officials said Monday.

Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 460 drones and 19 missiles, with only 10 weapons reaching their intended targets, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. One person was injured in the western Rivne region, where 70 buildings were damaged, including private homes and a nursery.

Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukraine showing the record-breaking scale of the June 8-9, 2025 bombardment

Primary Military Target Hit

The main target of the assault was a military airfield near Dubno in the Rivne region, approximately 60 kilometers from the Polish border, Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat said. The facility sustained damage, though officials did not provide specific details about the extent.

Russian officials said the attack was a retaliatory strike against what they called "terrorist attacks" by Ukraine on Russian military airfields earlier this month. Russia's Defense Ministry claimed "all designated facilities" were successfully targeted.

International Response

Poland scrambled fighter jets and deployed allied aircraft to protect its airspace during the early morning hours as a preventative measure, the Polish armed forces said. No violations of Polish airspace were observed during the operation.

"Due to the intensive air attack by the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine, Polish and allied aircraft began to operate in Polish airspace in the morning," Warsaw's Operational Command said in a statement.

Retaliation for Ukrainian Strike

The bombardment came as retaliation for Ukraine's "Operation Spider's Web," a sophisticated drone attack launched June 1 against Russian air bases. That operation reportedly damaged at least 40 Russian military aircraft, including strategic bombers used to carry out attacks on Ukrainian cities.

Ukraine's Security Service used 117 drones concealed in trucks and launched from within Russian territory to strike five air bases spanning five time zones, reaching as far as Eastern Siberia. The operation took 18 months to plan and execute.

Escalating Attacks Amid Peace Efforts

The record-breaking assault occurred as Russia and Ukraine engaged in direct peace talks for the first time since the war began, though negotiations in Istanbul have yielded little progress beyond prisoner exchanges. Both sides began exchanging prisoners Monday, including wounded soldiers and those under 25 years old.

President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4, during which Putin warned he would "have to respond" to the Ukrainian airfield attacks. Trump described the conversation as "good" but noted it would not lead to "immediate peace".

Broader Military Context

The attack represents a significant escalation in Russia's use of drone warfare against Ukraine. In May 2025 alone, Russia launched 3,973 drones against Ukrainian targets, with Ukraine intercepting approximately half.

Russia has launched more than 33,000 drones against Ukraine since September 2022, according to tracking data. The Iranian-designed Shahed drones typically used in these attacks have a range of 1,550 miles and carry warheads weighing 66-110 pounds.

Russian forces also claimed Sunday they were advancing into Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region for the first time in the three-year conflict, though Ukrainian officials did not immediately confirm the territorial claims.

Civilian Impact

The overnight strikes targeted central and western Ukraine, areas that typically see fewer attacks than eastern regions near the front lines. Rivne Mayor Oleksandr Tretyak called it "the largest attack" on his region since the war began.

Ukraine's air defense systems, including U.S.-supplied Patriot missile batteries, successfully intercepted all four Russian Kinzhal hypersonic missiles launched during the attack. The country has received multiple Patriot systems from Western allies to bolster its air defenses.

Casualty Toll

The conflict has resulted in more than 1.4 million military and civilian casualties on both sides since Russia's invasion began in February 2022. Ukrainian officials estimate that more than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed, though the actual number is believed to be higher.

Russian military casualties are estimated at more than 790,000 killed or wounded, according to U.S. military assessments. Ukraine has reported approximately 400,000 military casualties.

The war entered its 1,202nd day Monday, with no clear timeline for resolution despite ongoing diplomatic efforts. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged citizens to remain vigilant and follow air-raid alerts as attacks continue.