Russia launched an extensive drone attack on Ukraine just hours before US and Russian officials convened in Saudi Arabia for talks aimed at ending Moscow’s war on its neighbor. Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 176 Shahed-type strike drones and decoy drones overnight, as part of the ongoing aerial assaults targeting Ukrainian defenses and energy infrastructure.
According to Ukraine’s air force, more than 100 drones were successfully intercepted and shot down, with nearly 70 decoy drones evading radar detection without causing any harm. The extent of damage or casualties resulting from the attack was not specified in the report.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky disclosed that Russia had unleashed a significant number of aerial munitions in the preceding week, including nearly 1,220 aerial bombs, over 850 attack drones, and more than 40 missiles of various types.
The relentless drone attacks by Russia have been a cause of concern for Ukraine, with the assaults intensifying in recent weeks. The use of drones as a tool of warfare has posed challenges for Ukrainian forces, who have been working diligently to defend against the aerial onslaught.
The timing of the drone attack, just before the scheduled diplomatic discussions between the US and Russian officials, underscores the complex dynamics at play in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, with efforts ongoing to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
