Ukraine has unleashed a huge barrage of 660 drones in a major nighttime attack across Russia in the latest humiliation for Vladimir Putin.It appeared to be one of the biggest drone attacks on Russia and the illegally annexed Crimea since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago. The previous biggest Ukrainian attack over the past year was 556 drones on May 17.In an effort to turn the tables on Russia's grinding war of attrition, Ukrainian long-range drones have for months been battering targets, including oil production and energy facilities, behind the front line and deep inside Russia. The campaign has choked Russian fuel supplies and military deliveries, stalling Moscow's efforts on the battlefield, Western officials and analysts say, and heaping pressure on Russia's President Putin.Initial damage reports from Russia after the overnight attack provided scant information. Usually Russia's Defence Ministry does not state what was targeted in Ukraine's drone attacks, nor does it detail any damage. Ukraine's Security Service said it used drones to strike Russian navy ships and air defence radars in Kerch, an important port city in Crimea. Image shows a Ukrainian drone over Russia after Kyiv launched a massive air attack The targets were two reconnaissance and mine-laying ships, the Volga and the Vyatka, and the cargo-passenger ferry Petropavlovsk, the agency said, claiming that the strikes started a large fire. The claim could not be independently verified. The major attack came hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X that he had ordered 'a 40-day influence operation,' believed to mean an escalation of attacks, aimed at 'compelling (Russia) to end the war' after US peace efforts over the past year yielded no breakthrough.The successful strikes, including hitting targets in Moscow and St Petersburg, have buoyed Ukraine.Mr Zelensky said he got further promises of foreign support when he attended a recent summit of G7 leaders, including from US President Donald Trump, and that the promised aid will help Ukraine step up its effort to force Putin to the negotiating table.A Nato summit next month could be another key moment in beefing up Ukraine's military. In the Tula region just south of Moscow, a private house was damaged by the attack and a woman was wounded, Tula Governor Dmitry Milyaev said in an online statement, as reports of damage caused by the attack began to emerge.He also said a power line was damaged, as well as an unspecified industrial facility in the city of Novomoskovsk.Russian independent online outlet Astra reported that a chemical plant and a hydroelectric plant in Novomoskovsk were attacked and caught fire. The Associated Press couldn't independently verify the report and there was no official confirmation. Rescue workers put out a fire at a building destroyed after a Russian strike on Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on Friday, June 26 Two people were killed and seven others injured in Russian attacks on the northeastern Kharkiv region in Ukraine Rescue workers provide medical help to their colleague injured on a site after a Russian strike on Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on Friday, June 26 Smoke rises from building destroyed after a Russian strike on Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on Friday, June 26 Rescue workers put out a fire at a building destroyed after a Russian strike on Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on Friday, June 26 Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin also reported 47 Ukrainian drones were downed as they flew toward the Russian capital. He did not report any casualties or damage.Two people were killed and seven others injured in Russian attacks on the northeastern Kharkiv region in Ukraine over the previous 24 hours, regional head Oleh Syniehubov said on Friday.Russian forces struck the city of Kharkiv and 16 other settlements across the region using guided aerial bombs and drones of various types, Syniehubov said.Ukraine's defences overnight stopped 174 of 189 Russian drones, the Ukrainian air force said. However, four of seven Iskander-M ballistic missiles that were fired got through air defenses and struck various locations, it said.Ukrainian officials reported damage to energy facilities, homes and other civilian infrastructure in the capital, Kyiv, the southern Odesa and Zaporizhzhia regions, and Sumy in the northeast. At least six people were wounded, according to authorities.
Ukraine unleashes huge barrage of 660 drones on Russia
Ukraine has unleashed a huge barrage of 660 drones in a major nighttime attack across Russia in the latest humiliation for Vladimir Putin.










