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Russia Launches Largest Airstrike on Ukraine Since Invasion Began: 741 Drones and Missiles in One Night
In the largest air assault since the start of its full-scale invasion, Russia launched an unprecedented 741 aerial weapons against Ukraine overnight, marking the highest number of airborne threats ever recorded in a 24-hour period.
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
The main target of the strike was the northwestern region of Volyn, including an airfield and several industrial facilities near the city of Lutsk, according to the Ukrainian Air Forces on July 9.
According to Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat, “the enemy concentrated its attack on one direction—Volyn—including the airfield and specific industrial enterprises.”
A new massive Russian attack on our cities. It was the highest number of aerial targets in a single day: 741 targets – 728 drones of various types, including over 300 shaheds, and 13 missiles – Kinzhals and Iskanders. Most of the targets were shot down. Our interceptor drones… pic.twitter.com/Lxa5TdYVXT
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 9, 2025
Ihnat noted that Russia is increasingly focusing its strikes along singular axes, using a combination of Shahed-type drones and cruise missiles.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the scale of the assault in a statement, calling it “a new massive Russian attack against our cities” and emphasizing its timing amid fresh international talks about ceasefire initiatives.
“There were the most aerial targets in one day—741 targets: 728 drones of various types, more than 300 of which were Shaheds, and 13 missiles—Kinzhal and Iskander. Most of the targets were shot down,” Zelenskyy wrote.
Defensive response and regional damage
Ukraine’s air defenses neutralized 718 of the 741 airborne threats, including all 7 cruise missiles and 296 of the Iranian-designed Shahed drones, using ground-based weapons.
An additional 415 drones were jammed or lost through electronic warfare systems. The combined effort included Ukrainian Air Force fighters, surface-to-air missile units, mobile fire teams, and drone interceptors.
Despite the successful defense, impacts were recorded at four locations, and debris from downed drones fell across 14 areas.
In the Zhytomyr region, Russian attacks damaged industrial workshops and shattered windows in nearby residential buildings. No injuries were reported.
The missile and drone barrage also caused damage in at least 10 other regions, including Dnipro, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, and Chernihiv regions.
Zelenskyy calls for stronger sanctions
Zelenskyy emphasized that the assault further proves Moscow’s disregard for peace efforts and urged the international community to step up pressure on Russia’s war economy.
“This is a demonstrative attack — precisely now, when there have been so many attempts to secure peace and a ceasefire, and only Russia rejects them all,” he said.
He called for painful new sanctions, particularly against Russian oil exports and third-party buyers financing Moscow’s aggression. “Everyone who wants peace must act,” Zelenskyy declared.
Earlier, in one of the most intense and destructive attacks on the Ukrainian capital since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, dozens of ballistic missiles and suicide drones rained down on Kyiv overnight, injuring at least 26 civilians, killing one, and sparking widespread fires across the city.
