Kyiv: Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced on Sunday that Russia launched more than 200 drones in an overnight assault, marking the largest drone attack of the war. Condemning Moscow’s “aerial terror,” Zelenskiy called for unity among Ukraine’s international allies.
“Every day, our people stand against aerial terror,” Zelenskiy wrote on X. “On the eve of the third anniversary of the full-scale war, Russia launched 267 attack drones against Ukraine — the largest attack since Iranian drones began striking Ukrainian cities and villages.”
Every day, our people stand against aerial terror. On the eve of the third anniversary of the full-scale war, Russia launched 267 attack drones against Ukraine — the largest attack since Iranian drones began striking Ukrainian cities and villages. In total, nearly 1,150 attack… pic.twitter.com/YvCNuZorvX
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 23, 2025
Ukraine’s air force reported that 138 of the drones were intercepted, while another 119 disappeared from radars after being jammed by electronic warfare. In addition, Russia fired three ballistic missiles. The assault caused damage across five regions of Ukraine.
Kyiv's air defenses repel what President Zelenskiy says is the biggest Russian drone attack on the eve of the third anniversary of Russia's invasion https://t.co/2TfXxiZBBC pic.twitter.com/d9JVo2jfDN
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 23, 2025
For months, Moscow has intensified massed drone strikes in an apparent effort to deplete Ukraine’s air defenses. According to Zelenskiy, Russia has launched nearly 1,150 attack drones, more than 1,400 guided aerial bombs, and 35 missiles of various types in the past week alone.
The Ukrainian president praised the country’s air defense operators and urged foreign allies to maintain a unified front to secure “just and lasting peace”.
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“This is achievable through the unity of all partners — we need the strength of all of Europe, the strength of America, the strength of everyone who seeks lasting peace.”
Kyiv and its European allies have expressed concerns following new U.S. President Donald Trump’s verbal attacks on Zelenskiy last week, as well as a meeting in Riyadh between U.S. and Russian delegations, to which Ukraine was not invited.
