Ukraine has unleashed a huge barrage of 660 drones in a major nighttime attack across Russia in the latest humiliation for Vladimir Putin.
It appeared to be one of its heaviest drone bombardments on Russia and the illegally annexed Crimea since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago.
The previous biggest Ukrainian attack over the past year was 556 drones on May 17.
In an effort to turn the tables on Russia’s grinding war of attrition, Ukrainian long-range drones have for months been battering targets, including oil production and energy facilities, behind the front line and deep inside Russia.
The campaign has choked Russian fuel supplies and military deliveries, stalling Moscow’s efforts on the battlefield, Western officials and analysts say, and heaping pressure on Russia’s President Putin.
Initial damage reports from Russia after the overnight attack provided scant information.
Usually Russia’s Defence Ministry does not state what was targeted in Ukraine’s drone attacks, nor does it detail any damage.
Ukraine’s Security Service said it used drones to strike Russian navy ships and air defence radars in Kerch, an important port city in Crimea.
The major attack came hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X that he had ordered ‘a 40-day influence operation,’ believed to mean an escalation of attacks, aimed at ‘compelling (Russia) to end the war’ after US peace efforts over the past year yielded no breakthrough.
The successful strikes, including hitting targets in Moscow and St Petersburg, have buoyed Ukraine.
