Russia Unleashes Record Air Assault on Ukraine With Nearly 500 Missiles and Drones

Air raid sirens sounded across the entire country that night, as Russia appeared to target every region simultaneously. The assault involved a staggering number of drones and missiles, surpassing anything previously recorded.

Russia’s largest airstrike yet

The previous record came at the end of May, when Russia fired 995 drones and various types of cruise and ballistic missiles over three days, averaging 300 aerial weapons per night.

This time, Moscow “outdid” even that: 452 aerial weapons were launched, including nearly 400 drones, along with dozens of cruise and ballistic missiles.

To understand the scale: In April 2024, Russia’s ally Iran launched 300 drones and missiles at Israel in a single wave. The effort to intercept them required assistance from the US, UK, and French air forces, in addition to Israel’s own air defense systems.

Russia used 50% more weapons against Ukraine, and once again, Ukraine had to defend itself alone. Ukrainian forces shot down 406 targets: 199 drones, four Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles, 30 Kh-101 cruise missiles, and two Iskander-K cruise missiles. Another 169 drones and two ballistic missiles were not intercepted, or their fates remain unverified.

Despite these defenses, Russian strikes hit 13 locations across Ukraine. Casualties were reported in Kyiv, Ternopil, Lutsk, and other cities. Russia killed four civilians and injured around 30 more.

Ukraine had already been under heavy bombardment in the days leading up to this attack. In the past two weeks alone, more than 2,000 Russian drones and missiles of various types have been launched at the country.

Responding with precision

The reason Ukraine’s intelligence services have focused on targeting Russia’s strategic aviation in the operation “Spider Web” is clear: to reduce the intensity of these attacks. Russian bombardments hit only peaceful Ukrainian cities, civilians, and critical energy infrastructure. The aircraft recently targeted and destroyed by Ukraine’s Security Service had been involved in launching ballistic missiles, making them legitimate military targets and a direct response to Russia’s escalation of the war.

Russia’s centerpiece of the attack—the cruise missile strike— meant to demonstrate strength and resolve in response to Ukraine’s successful operation, instead exposed how strained Russian strategic aviation has become. These aircraft were loaded nearly to their full payload capacity, carrying on average five missiles each.

Ukraine also carried out strikes on targets in Russian territory on June 6 using long-range drones. All targets were exclusively military, and no casualties were reported.

Among the targets were:

• The Engels Air Base—specifically the “Kristal” oil depot of the Russian state reserve. Three aviation fuel storage tanks were destroyed. This fuel is used to refuel bombers conducting air raids on Ukraine. Ukraine has struck this base before; of its 54 tanks, 20% have now been damaged or destroyed.

• The Dyagilevo Air Base, which also hosts Russian military aircraft.

• The Progress plant in Michurinsk, Tambov region, which produces components for aviation and missile systems. The strike damaged one of the production workshops.

From the very beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine has directed its attacks at military targets, airfields, troop concentrations, and logistics routes. In contrast, the Kremlin continues to launch hundreds of aerial weapons aimed at civilian cities.

Continued support from Ukraine’s allies in supplying air defense systems and ammunition is critical. In the early days of the invasion, attacks might have involved just a few missiles or drones. Today, Russia can launch more Shahed drones in a single night than it did in an entire month in 2022.

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