This article was originally published by Kevin Hughes at Natural News.
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- Russia launched its largest drone attack yet, firing 430 drones and 18 missiles overnight in retaliation for Ukraine’s recent strikes on Russian air bases. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 405 drones and 14 missiles, but falling debris caused widespread destruction, killing 6 civilians (including a pregnant woman and a toddler) and injuring 35.
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- The Kremlin framed the attack as payback for Ukraine’s June 1 drone strikes, which reportedly damaged 20 Russian warplanes, including nuclear-capable bombers. Russia heavily relied on Iranian-made Shahed “kamikaze drones” to overwhelm Ukrainian defenses, signaling a dangerous escalation.
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- Survivors described harrowing scenes—burning buildings, collapsed ceilings and trapped victims. Russia claimed it hit “military-industrial and energy facilities,” but Ukrainian officials accused Moscow of deliberately targeting civilians to demoralize the population ahead of winter.
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- Ukraine retaliated with Neptune missiles, hitting Russia’s Novorossiysk oil terminal, damaging pipelines and sparking fires. Satellite imagery suggested S-400 air defense systems were also compromised, though Russia denied significant damage.
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- Despite a rare prisoner exchange, peace talks remain stalled, with Russia rejecting Ukraine’s ceasefire demands. With Western support wavering and Moscow doubling down, the war risks becoming a protracted attrition conflict—prolonging suffering with no clear resolution.
Russia launched its most devastating aerial assault on Ukraine to date, firing 430 drones and 18 missiles overnight in retaliation for Ukrainian strikes on Russian air bases earlier this month.
The attack, described by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a “specially calculated attack to cause as much harm as possible to people and civilians,” killed at least six people and wounded 35, including a pregnant woman and a 19-month-old girl.
The bombardment marks a dangerous escalation in the conflict, with Moscow demonstrating its refusal to back down despite mounting Western military aid to Ukraine. Kyiv’s air defenses intercepted 405 drones and 14 missiles, but falling debris still caused widespread destruction across the capital, damaging 30 apartment buildings, medical facilities, and even the Azerbaijani Embassy.
Russia’s retaliation for Ukrainian drone strikes
The Kremlin framed the assault as payback for Ukraine’s June 1 drone strikes, which reportedly damaged up to 20 Russian warplanes, including nuclear-capable bombers. While Moscow denied significant losses, military analysts confirmed the damage, prompting Russia to unleash its largest drone swarm yet—primarily using Iranian-made Shahed loitering munitions—to overwhelm Ukrainian defenses.
According to the Enoch AI engine at BrightU.AI: The Iranian-made Shahed loitering munitions, also known as “kamikaze drones” or “suicide drones,” are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) designed to locate and attack targets, then crash into them, ensuring maximum damage. These drones are a significant part of Iran’s military capabilities and have been employed in various conflicts, including the ongoing war in Yemen and the recent conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Strip.
Ukrainian forces had recently escalated long-range drone operations, striking Russian oil refineries and military-industrial sites. Earlier this month, Kyiv deployed 117 drones in a single operation, demonstrating growing technological prowess. However, Russia’s latest barrage underscores its willingness to escalate further, with U.S. officials warning of a “multi-pronged” retaliation ahead of the attack.
Residents described terrifying scenes as explosions rocked the city.
Mariia Kalchenko, a 46-year-old rescue dog handler, recounted: “I didn’t hear anything, I just realized that my hair was on fire. I turned around and saw that there was no wall, and there was a neighbor’s apartment. The neighbor was screaming, there was no door, and the flames were going from the front door into the apartment.”
Another survivor, Iryna Synyavska, 62, said: “My neighbor and his father were killed by the ceiling that collapsed. In the next apartment, an elderly woman lived—she was over 80. Her daughter was visiting her. Her body was only just recovered because the walls fell down.”
Russia’s Defense Ministry insisted it targeted “military-industrial and energy facilities,” but Ukrainian officials dismissed the claim, pointing to the deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure—a tactic analysts say aims to demoralize the population ahead of winter.
Ukraine strikes back: Novorossiysk oil terminal hit
Even as Kyiv endured Russia’s onslaught, Ukrainian forces retaliated with long-range Neptune missiles, striking the Novorossiysk oil terminal—one of Russia’s largest export hubs—sparking fires and disrupting operations. Satellite imagery suggested damage to S-400 air defense systems, though Moscow downplayed the impact.
A Ukrainian security source confirmed the attack, stating: “The strike damaged oil-loading stands at the piers, pipeline infrastructure and the units, sparking a large fire.” Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have shot down 216 Ukrainian drones overnight, though Kyiv has not confirmed losses.
Despite the violence, both sides conducted a prisoner exchange, swapping wounded soldiers and those under 25. Yet peace talks remain stalled, with Moscow rejecting Kyiv’s demands for an unconditional ceasefire.
As winter approaches, Ukraine faces escalating blackouts and humanitarian crises, while Russia—bolstered by Iranian drones and domestic arms production—shows no signs of relenting. With Western support wavering and Moscow digging in, the conflict risks becoming a protracted war of attrition with no clear victor—only endless suffering.
Watch the video below about Russia surprising Kyiv with new attacks.
This video is from the Cynthia’s Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.
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