Russia Launches 537-Weapon Strike; Ukraine F-16 Pilot Killed
In what is being described as the most massive aerial assault since the start of the full-scale invasion, Russia launched a staggering 537 aerial weapons against Ukraine overnight, comprising 477 drones and decoys alongside 60 advanced missiles. The unprecedented attack appeared designed to overwhelm Ukrainian air defences and target critical infrastructure across multiple regions.
Ukrainian defence forces responded swiftly, managing to intercept 211 drones and 38 missiles, while another 226 drones were rendered ineffective through electronic jamming. Despite the high interception rate, several missiles and drones found their mark in regions such as Kherson, Kharkiv, Cherkasy, Drohobych, Lviv, and Zaporizhzhia, leaving at least 10 civilians dead and injuring dozens more.
F-16 Pilot Dies in Heroic Attempt to Shield Civilians
Among the grim toll of the strike was the death of Lt Col Maksym Ustymenko, a Ukrainian F-16 pilot who died while repelling incoming aerial threats. Ustymenko had reportedly downed seven enemy targets before his aircraft was fatally damaged. In a final act of heroism, he directed his stricken fighter jet away from populated zones but could not eject in time. President Volodymyr Zelensky posthumously awarded him the title of Hero of Ukraine, calling his death a “sacrifice that will not be forgotten.”
NATO on Alert; Zelensky Urges US for More Defences
The scale of the attack raised alarm beyond Ukraine’s borders. Air defence systems were activated in Poland, and aircraft were scrambled in response to the aerial intrusion threat near NATO territory. The incident underscored the escalating regional dimension of the war and the vulnerability of neighbouring airspace.
President Zelensky renewed his plea for immediate Western military aid, especially advanced air defence systems like Patriot batteries. He warned that as long as Russia retains the ability to carry out such strikes, Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure will remain under constant threat.
