Russia carried out its largest aerial strike on Ukraine late Tuesday night (July 8-9) in a bold move that openly defied US President Donald Trump's recent remarks. According to Ukrainian officials, Moscow fired a total of 741 drones and missiles in a coordinated attack across much of Ukraine’s territory.
This marked the most extensive aerial assault since the war began. Just hours before the attack, Trump had criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying, “We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin... He’s very nice to us all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless,” and added, “he’s killing too many people, so we’re sending some defensive weapons to Ukraine.”
Targeted Regions and Ukraine’s Response
Despite the large-scale attack, Ukraine’s defense forces managed to intercept 718 out of 741 incoming drones and missiles. Their air defense used a combination of fighter jets, mobile fire teams, electronic warfare systems, and interceptor drones. Ukrainian forces claimed they neutralized 296 drones and jammed 415 more.
The main target appeared to be Volyn in the northwest, where Russia aimed at an airfield and several industrial sites near Lutsk. The attack also caused damage in 10 other regions, including Dnipro, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Mykolaiv, Kirovohrad, Khmelnytskyi, and Cherkasy.
Trump’s Inaction Encourages Moscow
Though Trump has occasionally spoken harshly about Putin, his actions suggest a different approach. He has refused to impose serious penalties or increase pressure on Russia. In fact, his administration halted the delivery of weapons to Ukraine, which many believe has encouraged Putin to escalate attacks.
Last week, Russia launched a record 550 drones and missiles just hours after a phone call between Trump and Putin. And now, with the latest 741-missile barrage, the pattern of escalating aggression continues.
Kremlin’s Justification and Ukraine’s Reaction
Moscow claimed it targeted military airfields using “long-range precision weapons” and asserted that “all designated targets were destroyed.” Meanwhile, Andriy Yermak, Chief of Staff to President Zelenskyy, noted that the attack came just as the US confirmed plans to send more weapons to Ukraine. He said the timing was “quite telling.”
On Ground and Political Repercussions
Russia announced on Wednesday that it had captured Tolstoy village in Donetsk, continuing its territorial push in eastern Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted strongly, calling the attack “yet another proof of the need for sanctions.” He urged world leaders to enforce secondary sanctions on countries that buy Russian oil, which he said continues to fund the war.
Zelenskyy added, “Everyone who wants peace must act... Our partners know how to apply pressure in a way that will force Russia to think about ending the war, not launching new strikes.”