LONDON — Russia launched 537 drones and missiles into Ukraine in a single day into Sunday morning, in response to Ukraine’s air pressure, with a Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet and its pilot additionally reported misplaced throughout efforts to repel the assault.
Ukraine’s air pressure wrote on Telegram that Russia launched 477 drones and 60 missiles at targets throughout the nation in a single day. Saturday evening’s assault was one in all — if not the — largest of Moscow’s battle thus far.
The air pressure stated 436 drones and 38 missiles have been downed by air defenses, with the assistance of U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets whose pilots shot down “dozens” of assault drones. “The work of Ukrainian fighters is extraordinarily harmful,” it stated.
Individuals take shelter inside a metro station throughout a Russian navy strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, on June 29, 2025.
Alina Smutko/Reuters
Among the many pilots was Lt. Col. Maksym Ustimenko, the air pressure stated, who shot down seven targets earlier than his F-16 was broken throughout an try to down an eighth.
“His airplane was broken and started to lose altitude,” the air pressure stated. Ustimenko, it added, guided the airplane away from residential areas on the bottom however “didn’t have time to eject.”
Russian drone or missile impacts have been recorded in six areas, the air pressure stated, with falling particles reported in eight areas.
Poland’s Armed Forces Operational Command stated in a put up to X that the Russian strikes prompted Polish and allied plane to be scrambled.
The command stated it “activated all accessible forces and sources at his disposal, the obligation fighter pairs have been scrambled and the ground-based air protection and radar reconnaissance methods have reached the very best state of readiness. The steps taken are aimed toward making certain safety within the areas bordering the threatened areas.”
Two hours later, the command stated in a press release that the forces have been stood down “as a result of decreased degree of menace of Russian air strikes.”
Russia’s Protection Ministry, in the meantime, stated its forces shot down three Ukrainian drones in a single day.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated {that a} residential constructing within the city of Smila, near the central metropolis of Cherkasy, was amongst these hit by drones, with one youngster injured.
A Ukrainian air pressure F-16 returns at low altitude after attacking Russian navy positions within the route of occupied Kurakhove on February 17, 2025, within the Dnipropetrovsk area of Ukraine.
Andriy Dubchak/frontliner/Getty Photographs
Zelenskyy additionally stated he had ordered an investigation into Ustimenko’s loss of life, including “Ukrainian aviation heroically defends the sky. Thanks to everybody who defends Ukraine.”
“Moscow won’t cease so long as it is ready to ship huge strikes,” the president continued. “
Russian President Vladimir Putin, he stated, “determined way back that he would proceed to combat regardless of the world’s requires peace. We have to finish the battle, we’d like strain on the aggressor, we’d like safety.”
“Ukraine must strengthen its air protection,” he stated. “These are American methods that we’re prepared to purchase. We rely on the management, political will and help of the USA, Europe and all our companions.”
