Russia has carried out what Ukraine claims to be the largest aerial assault in the three-year war, launching nearly 500 missiles and drones overnight. The massive attack prompted an immediate response from NATO allies as Warsaw scrambled fighter jets to protect Polish airspace from potential border violations.
According to Breitbart, Ukraine's air force reported that Russia launched 479 drones, four ballistic missiles, and 16 cruise missiles against Ukrainian territory. This marks a significant escalation in Russia's aerial campaign, which has been intensifying in scale and frequency.
Despite the overwhelming numbers, Ukrainian officials claim their defenses limited the damage. Their military reports intercepting 292 drones through conventional means while neutralizing another 187 using electronic warfare countermeasures that disrupt guidance systems. They also claim to have shot down all but one of the missiles, a Kh-22 cruise missile.
NATO's rapid border response
Poland's Operational Command of the Armed Forces took immediate defensive action, scrambling both Polish and allied fighter jets to patrol the eastern border. The operation included activating ground-based air defense systems and placing reconnaissance capabilities on high alert.
Warsaw described the move as "preventative" and later confirmed that no violations of Polish airspace had occurred. The systems were eventually stood down after the threat had passed, but the incident highlights the war's potential to spill beyond Ukraine's borders.
The concern is justified, as errant missiles from both Russian and Ukrainian forces have occasionally crossed into NATO territory in previous incidents. Though these incidents appear accidental, they underscore the dangers of intense combat operations near NATO's eastern flank.
Russia's escalating drone campaign
The massive drone strike demonstrates Russia's growing capacity to sustain high-intensity aerial campaigns. Just last week, Russia launched what was then described as "among the war's largest" attacks, involving more than 400 drones and 40 missiles.
This rapid succession of large-scale attacks shows a dramatic increase in Russia's drone warfare capabilities. By comparison, in November 2024, Russia's largest drone strike involved just 188 drones – less than half the number deployed in Sunday's attack.
The escalation appears connected to Russia's promise of retaliation after Ukraine conducted raids on Russian airbases using smuggled suicide drones. Those Ukrainian operations targeted air facilities deep inside Russian territory, bypassing traditional air defenses by launching from nearby positions.
Expanding defense production capabilities
Both sides continue to demonstrate increased capacity for producing and deploying unmanned aerial vehicles, transforming the nature of the conflict. Ukraine claims Russia's nearly 500-drone attack resulted in only 10 successful strikes, with an additional 17 locations suffering damage from falling debris.
Ukraine also conducted its own counter-offensive, launching 49 drones against Russian targets overnight, according to Moscow's defense ministry. This tit-for-tat pattern of drone warfare has become a defining feature of the conflict's current phase.
The proximity of these attacks to NATO territory has prompted defensive preparations beyond just air patrols. Romania has deployed new air raid shelters to communities near its border with Ukraine, anticipating the possibility of misdirected strikes affecting its territory.
Unprecedented aerial warfare intensity
The scale of Sunday's attack represents a dramatic escalation in Russia's air campaign against Ukraine, doubling the intensity seen in previous large-scale assaults just months ago. This increase suggests both sides have significantly expanded their production capabilities for unmanned systems.
The rapid growth in drone warfare capabilities is particularly noteworthy. In less than seven months, Russia has more than doubled its capacity to launch coordinated drone attacks, moving from 188 drones in November 2024 to 479 in this latest assault.
Despite Ukraine's claims of successful defense, the sheer volume of attacks continues to strain their air defense systems. This pattern of escalation raises questions about the sustainability of Ukraine's defensive capabilities as Russia maintains pressure through increasingly large aerial assaults.
