KYIV, Ukraine – Ukraine’s air force reported Monday that Russia launched nearly 500 drones at Ukraine in what is described as the most extensive overnight drone attack of the three-year conflict. This aggressive move forms part of Russia’s ongoing summer offensive despite the lack of progress in direct peace talks aimed at halting the hostilities.
Amid the continuous struggle to agree on a ceasefire, another exchange of prisoners of war took place between the two nations Monday. Aside from the 479 drones, the Ukrainian air force noted that 20 additional missiles targeted various regions from Sunday to Monday, primarily focusing on central and western sections of the country.
Ukraine’s air force claims that of these attacks, its defenses managed to intercept and eliminate 277 drones and 19 missiles, resulting in only 10 drones or missiles making contact with their targets. Reports mentioned one injury, though these assertions remain unverified independently.
This latest surge in aerial assaults aligns with a rejuvenated Russian effort on the battlefield along eastern and northeastern sectors of the roughly 1,000-kilometer front line. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged the severity of the situation in these regions, although he did not provide further specifics.
Faced with a numerically superior adversary, Ukraine’s military is disadvantaged at the frontlines and requires increased military assistance from its Western allies, particularly in air defense. Uncertainty surrounding U.S. policy adds to the ambiguity of the support Kyiv can reliably anticipate.
Ukraine, however, has launched some impressive retaliatory strikes, including a noteworthy drone attack on June 1 against remote Russian airbases, showcasing sophistication and unprecedented reach.
The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed an operation by special forces targeting two Russian fighter aircraft positioned at the Savasleyka airfield in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region, approximately 650 kilometers northeast of the border. While details regarding how the strike was conducted were not provided, Russian officials have yet to respond to these claims, and some war bloggers from Russia maintain that the aircraft remained undamaged.
In response to Ukraine’s drone strike on airbases housing nuclear-capable bombers, Russian counterattacks have escalated. The Russian Defense Ministry announced strikes, one of which was on Ukraine’s Dubno airbase in the western Rivne region.
Direct peace negotiations between delegates from Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul over recent weeks have resulted in no significant breakthroughs, aside from commitments to exchange prisoners and manage casualties. Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed intentions to persist with the conflict until his stipulations are fulfilled.
Monday witnessed another exchange of prisoners, showing a rare moment of collaboration amid the stalemated attempts to broker a ceasefire. Zelenskyy and the Russian Defense Ministry announced the latest swaps, involving wounded soldiers and younger detainees, yet did not specify numbers. According to Zelenskyy, ongoing negotiations are complex and frequent given the delicate nature of the process.
In northern Ukraine’s Chernihiv region, relatives congregated anxiously at a hospital, forming a line in hopeful anticipation of being reunited with freed loved ones. Some waited on news of those missing for prolonged periods, with their desperation illuminated through photos of sons, husbands, and brothers.
Among the waiters was 38-year-old Tetiana Lytvyn, searching for both her father and cousin, the latter having vanished while his wife was pregnant. Lytvyn awaits word on her cousin, now a father to a five-month-old daughter.
The Ukrainian prisoners returned were reportedly in poor health and faced deprivation of essentials during their capture, characterized by a lack of food and medical aid. Over 200 Ukrainian prisoners of war have reportedly died since Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Disputes endure over the transportation of the remains of soldiers fallen in combat. While the Russian Defense Ministry accused Ukraine of neglecting to collect the bodies of its soldiers offered for retrieval, Zelenskyy criticized Russian authorities for not providing details of over 1,000 Ukrainians whose bodies remain in territories under Russian control.
Nonetheless, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov mentioned the exchange is set to proceed, although specific agreements for transferring the remains had not been established. Ukraine’s intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, indicated that the process could begin within the week.
The long-range drone assaults persist, with Russia frequently targeting civilian zones in Ukraine using Shahed drones, leading to the deaths of over 12,000 civilians according to United Nations data. Although Russian officials assert their strikes aim only at military objectives, Ukraine continues to deploy its long-reaching drones deep into Russian territory.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported shooting down 49 Ukrainian drones overnight across seven Russian regions, and local authorities noted that two drones crashed into a plant manufacturing electronic warfare tools in the Chuvashia region, over 600 kilometers east of Moscow.
Arhirova contributed from the Chernihiv region.