Russia hits Ukraine with record 267-drone attack

Russia launched 267 drones into Ukraine on Saturday night, marking the largest drone attack of the war as both nations approach the third anniversary of Moscow’s full-scale invasion. Ukraine’s air force confirmed the unprecedented assault, surpassing the previous record of 193 drones set in December.

Ukrainian forces shot down 138 Shahed attack drones, while 119 others crashed without causing damage. Three drones veered into Belarus, according to the air force. “Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, Poltava, Kyiv, and Zaporizhzhia regions were affected by the enemy attack,” the military wrote on Telegram.

In Odesa, a drone strike injured three people, while emergency services reported another casualty in Zaporizhzhia. The wave of attacks underscores escalating hostilities as Ukraine enters its fourth year of war, with President Donald Trump’s administration pushing for peace talks between Russia and the U.S.—but without Ukraine’s involvement.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected any deal negotiated over Kyiv’s head. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha‎ urged world leaders to take note of the latest assault, citing reports that the U.S. is blocking a G7 statement labeling Russia as the aggressor. “This demonstrates that avoiding calling Russia an aggressor does not change the fact that it is one,” Sybiha‎ said. “No one should trust Putin’s words. Look at his actions instead.”

Ukraine continued its own long-range strikes, with Russia’s Defense Ministry reporting 40 Ukrainian drones shot down in the past 24 hours.