Ukraine says hundreds of drones, missiles fired overnight in largest Russian air attack yet

Ukraine says an volley of hundreds of Russian missiles and drones fired overnight marked the largest yet aerial attack of the three-year-old war, part of an escalating bombing campaign that has further dashed hopes for a breakthrough in efforts to end the conflict.

Russia fired a total of 537 aerial weapons at Ukraine, including 477 drones and decoys and 60 missiles, Ukraine’s air force says. Of these, 249 were shot down and 226 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed.

Yuriy Ihnat, head of communications for Ukraine’s air force, tells the Associated Press that the overnight onslaught was “the most massive air strike” on the country, taking into account both drones and various types of missiles. The attack targeted several regions, including western Ukraine, far from the frontline.

Kherson regional Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said one person died in a drone strike. Six people were wounded in Cherkasy, including a child, according to regional Gov. Ihor Taburets.

In the Lviv region in the far west of Ukraine, a large-scale fire broke out at an industrial facility in the city of Drohobych following a drone attack that also forced parts of the city to lose power.

Ukraine’s air force also said one of the F-16 warplanes Ukraine received from its Western partners to help fight Russia’s invasion crashed after sustaining damage while shooting down air targets. The pilot died when the fighter jet went down.

During the attack, Poland and allied countries scrambled aircraft to ensure the safety of Polish airspace, the Polish air force says.