Latest news with #Kinzhals
NDTV
6 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
NATO Jets Scrambled Amid Largest Russia Drone Attack On Ukraine
Kyiv: Russia unleashed its largest aerial attack yet on Ukraine by launching more than 700 drones, prompting NATO jets to scramble into Polish airspace. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the massive Russian attack involved "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 were used -- dozens of enemy targets were downed, and we are scaling up this technology. Mobile fire groups were also active - they downed dozens as well. I thank all our warriors for their precision," he said. The Ukrainian officials on Wednesday said the latest Russian attack topped previous aerial and ground assaults in the three-year war. Russia has recently sought to overwhelm Ukraine's air defences by launching major attacks that include increasing numbers of decoy drones. The most recent one appeared aimed at disrupting Ukraine's vital supply of Western weapons. Lutsk, a city that's home to airfields used by the Ukrainian army, was the hardest hit. It lies near the border with Poland in western Ukraine, a region that is a crucial hub for receiving foreign military aid. Poland, a member of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation), scrambled its fighter jets and put its armed forces on the highest level of alert in response to the attack, the Polish Armed Forces Operational Command wrote in an X post. Beyond Lutsk, 10 more regions in Ukraine were struck. Officials said one person was killed in the Khmelnytskyi region, while two were wounded in the Kyiv region. The Russian Defence Ministry confirmed its forces took aim at Ukrainian air bases, saying "all the designated targets have been hit." US Peace Efforts Stalled The attack comes at a time of increased uncertainty over the supply of crucial American weapons and as US-led peace efforts have stalled. Zelenskyy said that the Kremlin was "making a point" with its barrage. US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he was "not happy" with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who hasn't budged from his ceasefire and peace demands since Trump took office in January and began to push for a settlement. On Monday, he said the US would have to send more weapons to Ukraine, just days after Washington paused critical weapons deliveries to Kyiv. On Wednesday, the US resumed deliveries of certain weapons, including 155 mm munitions and precision-guided rockets known as GMLRS, two U.S. officials told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity so they could provide details that hadn't been announced publicly. It's unclear exactly when the weapons started moving. Ukraine's Attack On Russia Ukraine also fired drones into Russia overnight, killing three people in the Kursk border region, including a 5-year-old boy. Russia's Defence Ministry said Wednesday that air defences downed 86 Ukrainian drones over six Russian regions overnight, including the Moscow region. Flights were also temporarily suspended at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport and the international airport of Kaluga, south of Moscow. The governor of Russia's Kursk border region, Alexander Khinshtein, said a Ukrainian drone attack on the region's capital city just before midnight killed three people and wounded seven others, including the 5-year-old boy who died on the way to a hospital.
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India.com
6 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
‘Hell From The Sky': Russia Hits Ukraine With 728 Drones, 13 Missiles In War's Deadliest Wave; Zelensky Shares Aftermath Video
New Delhi: Ukraine woke up on July 9 to a sky full of metal and fire as Russia unleashed its biggest aerial assault since the war began. The Ukrainian Air Force said it was the 'largest combined drone and missile attack' seen in more than three years of relentless conflict. Kyiv claimed to have shot down most of the drones, but the scale stunned even hardened commanders. Out of 728 kamikaze drones, Ukrainian air defense systems intercepted 718. That still left 10 to strike. The barrage came with 13 missiles trailing behind, targeting infrastructure deep inside Ukrainian territory. Russia launched an air attack overnight with 741 aerial weapons – including 728 drones, 7 Iskander-K cruise missiles, and 6 Kinzhal missiles. Our defenses neutralized 718 threats, with dozens intercepted by Ukrainian interceptor drones and mobile fire groups. The main strike hit… — MFA of Ukraine (@MFA_Ukraine) July 9, 2025 Russia launched its largest aerial attack on Ukraine overnight with 741 targets including 728 drones and 13 missiles. Most were shot down. Lutsk was hit hardest. Strikes also affected Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, and other regions. Cleanup and recovery are ongoing. SES Ukraine — Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) July 9, 2025 Lutsk Mayor Igor Polishchuk said the city, though hit, reported no injuries or deaths. It was a miracle, some said. But the strike was a show of power in addition to the intended damage. The previous record? 550 drones and missiles. That was last week. This week, Russia set a new bar. And the timing was not lost on anyone. Hours before the attack, US President Donald Trump reversed course and vowed to increase weapons deliveries to Ukraine. At a campaign event, he accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of spreading 'bulls**t' about Ukraine and promised 'a real response'. It did not take long for Moscow to answer. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a video showing the wreckage, shattered buildings, twisted metal and smoke curling into an overcast sky. He did not hold back. 'This is a telling attack, and it comes precisely at a time when so many efforts have been made to achieve peace, to establish a ceasefire and yet only Russia continues to rebuff them all,' Zelenskyy wrote. He called on Ukraine's allies to step up and strike back, not with force, but with pressure. 'Our partners know how to apply pressure in a way that will force Russia to think about ending the war, not launching new strikes,' he added. 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… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy (@ZelenskyyUa) July 9, 2025 The Kremlin has not officially commented on the scale of the attack. But analysts say the message was unmistakable – Russia is not ready to stop. And it is ready to overwhelm Ukraine's skies – one drone at a time.
The Hill
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Russia launches record drone attack on Ukraine after Trump lashes out at Putin
Russia intensified its bombardment of Ukraine overnight with a record drone attack targeting 10 regions, less than 24 hours after President Trump aired his frustrations with Russian President Vladimir Putin for making little progress toward peace in the more than three-year war. The Russian military fired 728 drones, including more than 300 Shahed drones, along with 13 Iskander-K and Kinzhals missiles, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. The city of Lutsk, located in the northwest of Ukraine, was hit the hardest by the latest airstrikes. The city is situated near the Polish and Belarusian borders and has a population of over 200,000 residents. It is also home to the Lutsk Air Base. Russia's Defense Ministry said air bases were the intended target and claimed it was successful in its mission. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that apart from the city of Lutsk, the Russian attack also targeted the Dnipro, Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy and Chernihiv regions. 'This is a telling attack — and it comes precisely at a time when so many efforts have been made to achieve peace, to establish a ceasefire, and yet only Russia continues to rebuff them all,' Zelensky wrote Wednesday morning in a post on social platform X. 'This is yet another proof of the need for sanctions — biting sanctions against oil, which has been fueling Moscow's war machine with money for over three years of the war.' His push comes after Ukraine hawk Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Tuesday that the Senate will move 'soon' on a 'tough' Russia sanctions package that would impose a 500 percent tariff on imports from any country that buys Russian gas, uranium and oil. The measure has over 80 co-sponsors in the upper chamber and Trump confirmed he is also 'looking at' the bill. Trump, who has pushed to end the raging war in Eastern Europe, lashed out at Putin during a Cabinet hearing Tuesday. 'That is a war that it should have never happened,' the president said. 'A lot of people are dying and it should end. We get a lot of bulls— thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth. He's very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.' Russian Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday that 'we react quite calmly to that.' 'First of all, Trump makes quite harsh statements, judging from the phrases that he has used,' the Kremlin spokesman added. Russia's record attack on Wednesday also comes after the U.S. earlier this week said it would resume sending defense weapons to Ukraine, days after pausing the delivery of some air defense and munitions. Trump said the move was necessary so Kyiv can defend itself amid the onslaught. He spoke with Putin last week via phone, later telling reporters that the two made 'no progress' in brokering a potential ceasefire. The president added that he was 'disappointed with the conversation,' and that he didn't believe the Russian leader was 'looking to stop, and that's too bad.' Trump spoke with Zelensky the next day. The Ukrainian leader said they had a 'very important and fruitful' discussion. Over the weekend, Russia's military pounded Kyiv and other cities by launching 550 drones and missiles, injuring dozens of people and setting fire to cars and ambulances.
Shafaq News
7 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Russia launches record drone attack, Ukraine calls for more air defense support
Shafaq News – Moscow/Kyiv Russia launched its largest aerial assault on Ukraine overnight, deploying 728 drones and 13 missiles, according to the Ukrainian Air Force on Wednesday. The drones included Iranian-made Shahed models and decoys, while the missile barrage involved cruise and ballistic types. Ukraine's air defense reported shooting down 296 drones and seven missiles. Electronic warfare systems caused the loss of an additional 415 drones from radar. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the attack marked the highest number of aerial targets in a single day and targeted multiple regions, with the city of Lutsk identified as the primary focus. Other affected areas included Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, and Sumy. Ukrainian authorities reported civilian injuries in the Kyiv region as damage assessments continued. 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… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 9, 2025 Zelenskyy called for increased international support, including expanded air defense capabilities and stricter sanctions on Russian oil exports and entities financing the war. 'This is yet another proof of the need for sanctions–biting sanctions against oil, which has been fueling Moscow's war machine with money for over three years of the war.' 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… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 9, 2025 In Russia, the Ministry of Defense revealed that its air defenses intercepted 86 Ukrainian drones over six regions, including four near Moscow. Flights at Sheremetyevo and Kaluga airports were briefly suspended. In the Kursk region, officials reported three deaths and seven injuries following a drone strike on a public beach. Additional damage was reported to a hospital and residential buildings. Ukraine has not commented on these claims. The drone assault came hours after US President Donald Trump announced the resumption of military aid to Ukraine, including air defense systems, and backed additional sanctions on buyers of Russian oil and gas. Trump's envoy is expected to attend an international summit on Ukraine this week in Rome. According to Ukrainian military data, Russia launched over 5,400 drones and 239 missiles in June, setting a new monthly record. Kyiv is expanding domestic drone defense production with support from Western partners. Military analysts warn that Russia may soon be capable of launching up to 1,000 drones in a single night.
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Business Standard
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Russia, Ukraine start prisoner swap after recriminations after peace talks
Russia and Ukraine started a major prisoner exchange on Monday after days of wrangling cast doubt over the only concrete result of peace talks last week in Turkey. The first groups of prisoners under the age of 25 years were transferred by both sides, and the returning Russian soldiers are currently in Belarus, the Defense Ministry in Moscow said on its Telegram channel, without specifying the number exchanged. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed prisoners were returned from Russian captivity and said the process would continue in several stages over the coming days. 'The process is quite complex, with many sensitive details, and negotiations continue virtually every day,' Zelenskiy said in a statement on X. He also didn't specify how many prisoners were involved, but said those returning included the wounded and seriously wounded. 'We count on the full implementation of the humanitarian agreements reached during the meeting in Istanbul,' he said. The planned swap of 1,200 people from each side is set to be the largest-to-date of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, now well into its fourth year, but was held up as the two sides disagreed over details of the arrangement. Russia said at the weekend that it was ready to move ahead with the handover, including the refrigerated bodies of thousands of Ukrainian servicemen killed in action, but had been stymied. Ukraine said it was poised to swap badly injured and severely ill service members as well as younger soldiers, but the information Moscow provided didn't match what was agreed upon, delaying the process. Two recent rounds of talks haven't made any progress toward negotiating an end to the war, with Russia setting out maximalist demands and US President Donald Trump stepping back from calls for an immediate ceasefire. The two sides exchanged 1,000 prisoners each over three days in late May at a time of several deadly Russian airstrikes across Ukraine. Russia has stepped up major missile and drone strikes against Ukraine after a surprise Ukrainian June 1 drone attack against its air bases. Russia overnight launched 499 drones and missiles, including four Kinzhals and 14 cruise missiles, Ukraine's air defense forces said Monday on Telegram. The military shot down or jammed 479 of them, it said. Two Ukrainian drones struck the site of an electronics developer and manufacturer in Cheboksary, Russia, which temporarily halted operations to protect employees, Oleg Nikolayev, governor of the Chuvashia region that's located 1,300 km (800 miles) from the border with Ukraine, said in a Telegram post. The plant is involved in the missile production process, including for the Iskander system, said Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Ukrainian Center for Countering Propaganda, on Telegram. It also produces navigation systems for Russian Shahed drones and components used in glide bombs, according to the Ukrainian unmanned systems forces. The Russian ground war has also picked up speed again. Moscow's troops are advancing closer to the regional capital of Sumy in Ukraine's northeast and claimed to have crossed into the Dnipropetrovsk region for the first time — which Kyiv denied. At issue is the potential incursion by Moscow's land forces into one of Ukraine's most populous and industrialized areas. It would bring the war onto the soil of two provinces which so far haven't been officially earmarked for annexation by President Vladimir Putin. The Russian leader has demanded that Kyiv surrender all of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson provinces, which Russia illegally annexed in 2022 but doesn't fully control. That's in addition to Crimea, which Kremlin forces seized in 2014. After a phone call with Putin last week, Trump suggested that he might let Ukraine and Russia 'fight for a little while' before attempting to broker a peace deal. Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022, has also demanded Ukraine accept a neutral status and agree to limits on its army and foreign military aid.
