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yesterday

Russia Launches War’s Largest Aerial Assault on Ukraine With 537 Weapons

Ukraine shot down or jammed most of the 537 aerial weapons; civilian deaths, infrastructure damage, an F-16 crash, defense gaps prompted Zelenskyy’s urgent request for Patriot missiles from Western allies.

Explosion lights up the sky over the city during a Russian drone, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine June 29, 2025. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
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One of the last two promised F16 fighter jets is leaving Volkel Air Base on its way to be handed over to Ukraine, in Volkel, on May 26, 2025. Ukraine received its first F-16 jets from the Netherlands and Denmark in 2024.

Overview

  • The June 28 strike involved 537 aerial weapons—477 drones and decoys plus 60 missiles—making it the biggest since February 2022.
  • Ukraine’s air defenses intercepted 249 threats and likely jammed another 226, deploying F-16s alongside ground-based systems.
  • Civilian casualties were confirmed in at least four regions, with ten people killed and multiple injuries as homes and industrial sites were hit.
  • Lt. Col. Maksym Ustymenko was killed when his F-16 crashed after downing seven targets while steering clear of populated areas.
  • President Zelenskyy appealed for accelerated delivery of Patriot missile batteries, even as Poland and NATO scrambled jets to safeguard their airspace.