Ukraine Surpasses Russia in Daily Drone Attacks for First Time, Launching Over 990 Drones

Ukraine launched a record number of drones against Russia on June 18, surpassing not only its own previous daily record but also Russia's highest daily drone attack volume since the start of the war in 2022. Russian air defense systems reportedly intercepted 992 Ukrainian drones, four cruise missiles, and 10 guided aerial bombs on that day.

This surge in drone activity represents a significant escalation. Ukraine's previous daily record for drone launches was set on June 6, with Russia claiming to have intercepted 911 drones. The June 18 attack, however, involved at least 40 more drones than Russia's peak daily deployment, which occurred on March 24 with 948 drones.

Since March, Ukraine has consistently outmaneuvered Russia in monthly drone launches. In March, Ukraine deployed 7,551 drones compared to Russia's 6,462. Although Russia briefly regained the lead in April, Ukraine surged ahead again in May with 8,973 drones launched, against Russia's 8,150.

The attacks on June 18 also targeted Moscow directly, with Russian authorities reporting the interception of 194 drones approaching the capital. This is more than double the previous record for drone attacks on Moscow. The strikes hit a large oil refinery in the Kapotnya region for the second time in a week, causing a massive fire and temporarily halting operations. The refinery supplies about 40% of Moscow's fuel market. Additionally, four international airports in the Moscow region were temporarily closed, leading to the cancellation of over 500 flights and the evacuation of passengers and staff.