Key Point Summary – Russia launched biggest attack

• Russia launched biggest attack overnight with 479 drones
• Ukraine intercepted 277 drones and 19 of 20 missiles
• Russia escalates strikes after Ukraine hits airfields
• Ukraine claims drone attack caused damage deep inside Russia
• Prisoner swap continues despite failed peace talks
• Families wait in agony as POWs return to northern Ukraine
• UN says more than 12,000 civilians have died in Russian strikes

Russia Launches War’s Largest Drone Barrage

Russia launched biggest attack of the three-year war, firing 479 drones and 20 missiles at Ukraine in a single night. The assault spanned from Sunday into Monday, targeting central and western regions.

Ukraine’s air force responded with intense countermeasures. It claimed to have destroyed 277 drones and all but one missile. Just 10 unmanned aircraft or missiles struck their targets. Still, the psychological toll was immense.

A single injury was reported, but officials warned the scale of the attack marks a turning point. They said Russia appears determined to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses, especially as Kyiv pleads for more support from the West.

Russia Escalates as Front Line Heats Up

The massive barrage follows a sharp increase in fighting on the ground. Russian forces have launched new pushes along the eastern and northeastern front, which stretches roughly 1,000 kilometers.

Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, admitted the situation was “very difficult” in some of those regions. He gave no further details.

At the same time, Ukraine struck back in a bold move. Special operations units targeted two Russian fighter jets at an airfield 400 miles inside Russian territory. Kyiv says the attack struck the Savasleyka airfield in the Nizhny Novgorod region.

Russia denies damage. War bloggers loyal to Moscow echoed that claim. However, the strike underscored Ukraine’s growing ability to reach deep into enemy territory.

Retaliation for Ukrainian Drone Strike

Russia says its intensified strikes are a direct response to Ukraine’s June 1 drone attack on Russian air bases. Those bases hosted nuclear-capable bombers. One retaliatory strike hit Dubno in Ukraine’s Rivne region, Russia’s Defense Ministry said.

Despite the show of force, the Kremlin continues to hold back on agreeing to a ceasefire. Instead, President Vladimir Putin insists Russia will keep fighting until his demands are met.

That hasn’t stopped prisoner exchanges from continuing between the two sides. On Monday, both countries confirmed a new round of swaps had taken place.

Prisoners Return, Families Wait in Silence

Dozens of Ukrainian families gathered outside a hospital in the northern Chernihiv region, hoping to see loved ones freed in the latest exchange. Many held up photos. Some had waited years without word.

One by one, returning prisoners walked through the human corridor. Some were limping. Others appeared hollow and frail. All were silent, many overwhelmed with emotion.

Tetiana Lytvyn stood among the crowd. She was waiting not for one person—but for two. Her father and cousin disappeared last year.

“The war might end,” she said. “But for us, it won’t be over until they come home.”

Her cousin, Mykola Dmytruk, never met his newborn daughter. She’s now five months old.

Health of Released POWs Raises Alarms

Ukraine’s prisoner agency said the returning soldiers were in poor shape. Many suffered from malnutrition and untreated injuries. Some were barely recognizable.

Over 200 Ukrainian POWs have died in Russian custody since the invasion began, according to an Associated Press report. Kyiv officials accused Russia of withholding the names of 1,000 deceased Ukrainian soldiers, violating prior agreements.

Moscow, meanwhile, claims Ukraine failed to collect the bodies of its own dead after Russia made them available for transfer.

Despite the accusations, both sides agreed that the body exchange process will begin this week. Intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov confirmed plans are in place.

Russia Launches Drone Strikes Deep into Ukraine

Russia’s latest drone assault didn’t just cover battle zones. Civilian areas were hit once again, as has happened many times since the war began.

The UN estimates more than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians have died due to Russian attacks, many involving Shahed drones. Moscow continues to deny targeting non-military sites.

Ukraine responded by ramping up its own drone program. Its long-range strikes have now reached as far as 600 kilometers inside Russian territory.

Ukraine Hits Russian Electronics Plant

On Sunday night, two Ukrainian drones slammed into a factory producing electronic warfare systems in Chuvashia—an area over 370 miles east of Moscow. Russia’s Defense Ministry said it intercepted 49 Ukrainian drones over seven regions.

The overnight chaos was widespread. Yet both sides appear committed to further escalation, even as peace talks stall.

No Progress in Peace Talks

Peace negotiations resumed recently in Istanbul but yielded little. Both Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners and pledged to return fallen soldiers. Beyond that, no breakthroughs emerged.

Putin remains unmoved. He has made clear he won’t stop fighting until his terms are met. Zelenskyy, in contrast, continues appealing for Western aid—especially air defense systems.

For now, war grinds on. The skies remain a battleground. And with Russia launching the biggest attack to date, there is little sign either side is ready to step back.