Richard Parks Russia has launched its largest-ever drone attack on Ukraine, sending 188 drones to strike 17 regions overnight, according to Ukraine’s air force. The assault set a new record for the number of drones used in a single Russian attack. While most of the drones were intercepted, the strike still caused significant damage to civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings and the national power grid.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack, stating that the massive barrage of drones was further proof that Russia’s intentions were far removed from any genuine pursuit of peace. “Nearly two hundred Russian drones in one day are nearly two hundred proofs that Russian ambitions are utterly detached from any ideas of real peace,” he remarked during his daily address.
The devastation was particularly severe in the Ternopil region, where recovery operations are still underway. Additionally, Zelenskyy reported a deadly attack in Sumy, where a service station was hit, resulting in at least two fatalities. The assault, carried out with a multiple rocket launch system, also damaged a residential building and a kindergarten. Zelenskyy emphasized that the only way to defend against such attacks is to destroy Russian launch systems on Russian soil.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s use of U.S.-supplied Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles continues to target Russian military infrastructure. On November 19, Ukraine launched its first ATACMS missile attack, striking air defense systems in Russia’s Kursk region. The Russian Ministry of Defense acknowledged the strike, stating that five missiles were fired, with only three intercepted. The attack caused damage to Russian radar systems and injured several servicemen.
Ukraine launched another ATACMS strike on Monday, with seven out of eight missiles being intercepted. One missile caused minor damage to a Russian facility, and two servicemen were reported injured. The continued use of long-range missile systems and drones marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict.