Russia unleashes war’s biggest drone blitz on Ukraine, dashes hopes for peace

In its most ferocious aerial assault since the war began, Russia launched more than 500 drones on Ukraine overnight, Ukrainian officials said on June 10 — a dramatic escalation that shredded hopes of a peace breakthrough and drew fierce condemnation from world leaders, including US President Donald Trump.

The relentless drone attack — the third straight night of heavy bombardment — marks the latest phase in Moscow’s deepening air campaign as President Vladimir Putin signals he’s far from finished with Ukraine, even after more than three years of bloodshed.

“This is not about military logic. This is political messaging — and complete impunity,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote in a sharp message on Telegram.

According to Yuriy Ihnat, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Air Force, the onslaught involved at least 355 drones, pushing the total to around 900 drones deployed by Russia over just three days. The previous night’s strike involved 298 drones and 69 missiles, already the largest combined air assault until it was surpassed within 24 hours.

Russia’s Defense Ministry, in turn, claimed it shot down over 100 Ukrainian drones flying into its territory, including around Moscow. The aerial tit-for-tat forced more than 30 commercial flights to reroute, showing the war’s expanding geographic and psychological footprint.

Drone war intensifies

Once a niche tactic, drone warfare has become the war’s defining frontline — and a technological arms race. Russia, which first deployed Iranian-made Shahed drones in 2022, is now manufacturing its own versions. Ukraine, facing troop shortages, has responded by developing long-range drones capable of striking targets deep inside Russia.

Analysts warn Moscow is preparing for a full-fledged summer offensive. Its forces are making slow but steady progress along the 1,000-kilometer front line, emboldened by the lack of meaningful international deterrence.

Global alarm and political fallout

The spike in attacks has triggered renewed political urgency in Europe and the United States. In a rare break from his typically tempered tone, Donald Trump declared that Putin had gone “absolutely CRAZY”, accusing him of “needlessly killing a lot of people.” He also took a swipe at Zelenskyy, saying the Ukrainian leader was not helping matters with his rhetoric.

French President Emmanuel Macron said the attacks show Putin had “lied to both Europe and the U.S.”, and urged a firm deadline backed by “massive retaliation”, particularly via sanctions. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called the attacks “totally appalling” and said the bloc would push new sanctions.

In Berlin, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz signaled a turning point: Ukraine now has “no range restrictions” on Western-supplied weapons — a clear green light to hit Russian military targets across the border.

That prompted a warning from the Kremlin. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said lifting range limits was “quite dangerous”, calling it a blow to political resolution efforts.

Peace, then pressure

The bombardment comes just months after Ukraine accepted an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in March, brokered by the United States — an offer that Russia pointedly ignored. With peace efforts floundering and the air war intensifying, global leaders are recalibrating their stance.

Despite the spiraling violence, both sides carried out a major prisoner swap June 9 — the largest of the war — with over 1,000 captives exchanged. It was a rare moment of cooperation in a conflict increasingly defined by defiance and destruction.

But with missiles in the skies, drones over capitals, and diplomacy on life support, the message from Moscow is unmistakable: this war is far from over — and it may be entering its most dangerous phase yet.