Ukraine launches massive drone attack on 12 Russian regions and Crimea

Ukraine unleashed one of its most extensive drone assaults on Russia and occupied Crimea, striking 12 regions within Russia and the Crimean Peninsula. Russian state news agency Tass reported the attack involved more drones than any previous Ukrainian assault in the past year, with the Russian Defense Ministry stating 660 drones were intercepted. This follows a May 17 attack where 556 drones were reportedly used.

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Ukraine has launched one of its heaviest drone assaults on Russia since the war began, targeting 12 regions in the neighboring nation as well as its own Crimean Peninsula, which has been occupied by Russia since 2014.

Ukrainian authorities reported repelling a Russian missile attack, with debris falling in Kyiv. Ukraine's national Security Service stated that Ukrainian drones hit two military vessels and several air defense systems in Crimea's Kerch region. Reports on Telegram channels indicated a strike on the Azot chemical plant in Russia's Tula region, a facility previously targeted and identified by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as crucial for Russia's explosives production.

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Ukraine's national Security Service said that Ukrainian drones struck two military vessels and several air defense systems in the Kerch region of Crimea.

Analysts note that successive strikes on energy and industrial infrastructure have a significant impact, disrupting repairs and potentially keeping critical facilities offline for extended periods. Ukraine has intensified its strikes on Russia this spring and summer, focusing on energy and logistics infrastructure. Factors such as thinning Russian air defense stockpiles and Ukraine's growing drone production are seen as contributing to Kyiv's momentum.

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Analysts say strikes on energy and industrial infrastructure, in quick succession, have a significant impact as they delay repairs and can keep critical facilities closed for longer.

Data from Ukraine's Come Back Alive Foundation shows a dramatic increase in long-range drone launches into Russia, surpassing 3,000 this year compared to 110 in 2024. The Ukrainian defense ministry also reported destroying 1,447 Russian air defense systems since the full-scale invasion began. Ukrainian Defense Minister Mikhailo Fedorov expressed a goal to turn Crimea into an "island," isolating the occupied territory from Russia. Russian authorities in Crimea declared a state of emergency and halted fuel sales to civilians following earlier Ukrainian attacks.

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Thinning Russian air defense stockpiles and Ukraine's ever-increasing drone production have helped Kyiv seize new momentum this year, with analysts and some regional leaders seeing the tide slowly turn away from Russia's favor.