Russia Says It Downed 660 Ukrainian Drones as Strike Wounds 1 in Tula
Updated
Updated · The Moscow Times · Jun 26
Russia Says It Downed 660 Ukrainian Drones as Strike Wounds 1 in Tula
3 articles · Updated · The Moscow Times · Jun 26
Summary
Russia’s Defense Ministry said it intercepted 660 Ukrainian drones overnight across the country and annexed Crimea, making it one of the biggest such attacks since the 2022 invasion.
47 drones headed toward Moscow were shot down from about 2:30 a.m., Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said, with no casualties or damage reported in the capital.
1 woman was wounded in the Tula region, where Governor Dmitry Milyayev said an industrial facility in Novomoskovsk was hit; unverified reports pointed to the Azot chemical plant, and satellite imagery indicated a nearby power plant fire.
40 days of pressure were signaled hours earlier when President Volodymyr Zelensky said he approved an SBU “influence operation” meant to compel Russia to end the war.
Ukraine has been intensifying mass drone strikes on Russian refineries, fuel lines and Crimea targets this spring, a campaign analysts say is designed to overwhelm air defenses and disrupt gasoline supply.
As drones cripple Russian oil, is this the economic blow that finally ends the war?
Can Ukraine’s drone production surge truly outpace Russia’s vast war machine?
Ukraine’s Largest Drone Attack: The 660-Drone Barrage of June 26, 2026 and Its Ripple Effects in Russia
Overview
On June 26, 2026, Ukraine launched its largest drone attack since 2022, with Russia reporting the interception of 660 drones. This massive barrage targeted 12 Russian regions, annexed Crimea, and areas over the Black and Azov Seas, marking a major escalation in Ukraine’s strategic pressure campaign. The attack surpassed the previous record of 556 drones on May 17, 2026, and followed a series of large-scale drone operations focused on Moscow and its surroundings since mid-June. These coordinated strikes highlight Ukraine’s growing use of drone technology to challenge Russia’s defenses and disrupt its sense of security.