Russia Launches 614 Drones, Missiles in Largest Ukraine Attack

On the night of August 21, Russia launched one of its largest drone and missile attacks on Ukraine, deploying over 600 air weapons including 574 Shahed strike drones and multiple cruise and aeroballistic missiles, targeting regions such as Lviv and Mukachevo. Ukrainian air defense forces successfully intercepted and suppressed 577 targets, mitigating the impact but resulting in at least one death and multiple injuries, particularly in western Ukraine where such attacks are less common. This attack marks a record in drone and missile usage since mid-July, despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. Ukraine is actively responding by ramping up production of low-cost interceptor drones to counter Russia’s swarm drone tactics, which have overwhelmed traditional air defenses due to their speed, altitude, and precision. The Ukrainian domestic drone industry, supported by international partnerships, aims to mass-produce these affordable UAVs to create a sustainable air defense shield against evolving Russian aerial threats. These developments underscore the intensifying drone warfare that has become a central aspect of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.