Russia, Ukraine Trade Hundreds of Drones, Disrupt Air Travel

Russia and Ukraine engaged in massive drone strikes against each other, severely disrupting Russian air travel by causing hundreds of flight delays and cancellations at major airports such as Moscow’s Sheremetyevo and St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo. These exchanges came shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced new agreements with European allies and a U.S. defense company to significantly increase Ukraine's drone production capacity. Russian air defenses reportedly shot down over 159 Ukrainian drones during the attacks, while Ukrainian drones injured civilians in Russia's Belgorod region. This surge in drone warfare follows Russia’s largest aerial assault since the invasion began, which involved 550 drones and missiles targeting Ukraine and resulted in civilian casualties and significant damage. Ukraine has increasingly relied on homemade drones to strike deep inside Russia, compensating for troop shortages and boosting its defensive capabilities amid ongoing Russian offensives. Both sides sustained civilian injuries in these recent drone attacks as the conflict continues with intense pressure on Ukrainian front lines.