Ukraine Intercepts 152 Drones Across Multiple Regions in Large-Scale Attack

Ukraine launched a significant aerial attack involving 152 strike drones, including Shahed and Gerbera types, targeting multiple regions of Ukraine from Russian and occupied territories, with Ukrainian air defense shooting down or suppressing 126 drones. Concurrently, Moscow experienced one of its heaviest drone barrages in weeks, with at least 46 drones shot down near the capital and 127 intercepted nationwide, leading to flight cancellations and panic; Ukraine has not formally claimed responsibility but is suspected to be behind the strikes, which targeted locations including a Russian drone manufacturing facility. Notably, the Russian military reported the novel large-scale use of balloons carrying payloads during the drone attacks, complicating air defense efforts and causing disruptions including ultra-low altitude flights of military transport aircraft over Moscow. These balloons, potentially carrying explosives or serving as decoys, represent a new tactic in Ukraine's aerial assault strategy, with experts highlighting their higher payload capacity and stealth compared to drones. Separately, Ukraine unveiled its advanced TOLOKA underwater drone family designed for stealth naval missions and long-range strikes against Russian maritime targets, signaling ongoing innovation in Ukraine's defense technology amid the conflict. These attacks coincide with high-level diplomatic engagements, including a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the U.N. General Assembly, underscoring the complex military and political dynamics in the region.