Ukrainian authorities have reported that Russia launched a major drone offensive overnight, deploying over 100 drones across several regions, including the capital, Kyiv.
The attack marks another escalation in the ongoing conflict, coming at a time when U.S. military aid to Ukraine remains on hold.
According to Ukraine’s air force, a total of 119 drones were launched by Russian forces. Air defense systems managed to intercept and shoot down 71 of them across more than a dozen regions.
The status of the remaining 37 drones is still being assessed, though initial reports suggest they did not cause any major harm.
Authorities noted that six regions sustained damage from the strikes, but specific details about the extent of the destruction were not immediately disclosed.
The drone barrage follows a series of deadly attacks in the east and northeast of Ukraine on Friday and Saturday, which left at least 14 people dead. In a separate incident on Saturday evening, a glide bomb attack hit residential areas in Druzhkivka, a front-line town in the Donetsk region.
Ukrainian prosecutors said 12 people were injured, including a 15-year-old girl. Several apartment buildings and a café were reportedly damaged.
In response, Russia accused Ukraine of launching its own large-scale drone attack.
Authorities in the Belgorod region, which shares a border with Ukraine, claimed that 131 drones were sent into the area. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov stated that 101 drones were intercepted and no casualties were recorded.
The surge in drone warfare comes ahead of a high-level meeting scheduled for Tuesday in Saudi Arabia, where Ukrainian officials are expected to hold talks with U.S. representatives.
The discussions are aimed at exploring a potential ceasefire and outlining a possible framework for peace.
This diplomatic engagement follows Washington’s recent decision to freeze arms shipments and limit Kyiv’s access to intelligence and satellite data.