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Russia has launched its biggest aerial attack against Ukraine overnight, with a total of 537 aerial weapons fired, including 477 drones and decoys and 60 missiles, Ukraine’s air force reported. Of these, 249 were shot down and 226 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed.
Apart from the drones, the air force listed four Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missiles, seven Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles, one of which was shot down; 41 Kh-101/Iskander-K cruise missiles of which 33 were shot down and one disappeared from radar; five Kalibr cruise missiles (four shot down) and three S-300 anti-aircraft missiles.
Yuriy Ihnat, head of communications for Ukraine’s air force, told the Associated Press that the overnight onslaught was “the most massive air strike” on the country, taking into account both drones and various types of missiles. The attack targeted regions across Ukraine, including western Ukraine, far from the frontline.
In a statement on social media, the Ukrainian air force had earlier announced that an F-16 fighter jet has been lost, the third one so far in this war:
“Sadly, we have suffered another painful loss. Last night, while repelling a large-scale enemy air attack, First Class pilot Lieutenant Colonel Maksym Ustymenko, 32, was killed while flying an F-16 aircraft. The pilot used the full range of onboard weapons and shot down seven aerial targets.
While engaging the final target, his aircraft was damaged and began to lose altitude. Maksym Ustymenko did everything he could to steer the aircraft away from a populated area but did not manage to eject in time.”
EU warplanes scrambled to protect airspace
Poland and allied countries scrambled aircraft to ensure the safety of Polish airspace, the Polish air force said on Sunday.
As for the casualties, Kherson regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said one person died in a drone strike. Six people were wounded in Cherkasy, including a child, according to regional Governor Ihor Taburets.
The fresh attacks follow a statement by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday that Moscow is ready for a fresh round of direct peace talks in Istanbul. However, US-led international peace efforts have so far produced no breakthrough. Two recent round of talks between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul were brief and led to further exchanges of prisoners of war but yielded no progress on reaching a settlement.