Russia launched an unprecedented 188 strike drones against Ukraine in an overnight assault, the highest number deployed in a single operation since the war began. The attack, which targeted 17 regions, caused significant damage to critical infrastructure and residential buildings, worsening the challenges faced by Ukrainians as winter sets in.
Ukraine's air force announced on Telegram that it intercepted 76 drones, while another 95 were lost in flight, likely due to electronic jamming efforts. Five drones entered Belarusian airspace. The assault also included four Iskander-M ballistic missiles, none of which were intercepted.
"Unfortunately, critical infrastructure objects have been hit, and private and multi-apartment buildings have been damaged in several regions due to a mass attack by UAVs," the air force wrote.
The strikes drew condemnation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who emphasized the role of foreign components in Russia's drone arsenal and called for stronger enforcement of international sanctions. Each Russian "drone contains 85 foreign components. That's almost 16,000 components without which they wouldn't fly," Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram. "Such attacks are possible only because the criminal circumvents sanctions... We need more work together to make the sanctions work and force Russia to stop this war."
This strike exceeded the previous record of 145 drones launched by Russia on November 10, underscoring the escalation in Moscow's long-range campaign against Ukraine's energy infrastructure. With winter temperatures already below freezing and expected to persist until spring, Russia's attacks on energy facilities are part of a broader strategy to deny power and heat to Ukrainian civilians.
Among the affected areas was the western city of Ternopil, where local energy infrastructure was damaged. Serhii Nadal, head of Ternopil's regional defense body, confirmed the damage on Telegram, adding to concerns about the country's ability to maintain energy supplies through the winter.
Russia has also intensified pressure on the battlefield. Ukrainian officials reported that roughly half of all clashes along the 620-mile front line occurred near Pokrovsk and Kurakhove in the eastern Donetsk region. The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War noted that while Ukraine's defenses remain intact, incremental Russian gains are adding up and threatening critical supply routes. According to the think tank, the Kremlin would need to capture over 3,000 square miles of territory to achieve its goal of controlling the Donetsk region.
Meanwhile, air raid alarms in Kyiv lasted more than seven hours during the drone attack, highlighting the psychological toll on civilians. As strikes on residential areas and infrastructure continue, the strain on Ukraine's population is growing, compounding the humanitarian crisis.
Russia's Defense Ministry claimed that Ukraine used U.S.-supplied MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) in two strikes on S-400 anti-aircraft systems in the Kursk region. The ministry described these strikes as provocations and announced that "retaliatory actions are being prepared." In addition, the ministry reported intercepting at least 40 Ukrainian drones over various Russian regions during Monday night's attack and stated that there were no casualties or damage.
In a separate development, Russian authorities detained a British national identified as James Scott Rhys Anderson, who was reportedly fighting alongside Ukrainian forces. Captured in the Kursk region, Anderson's status remains unclear, and Russian officials have provided no details about charges or whether he is being treated as a prisoner of war.
The record-setting drone barrage is the latest example of Moscow's escalating efforts to weaken Ukraine's resilience as winter sets in. With ongoing strikes targeting energy infrastructure and growing uncertainty about international support, particularly from the United States, Ukraine faces mounting challenges. Questions remain about how U.S. policy might shift after President-elect Donald Trump takes office, raising concerns about the future of military and economic aid.
