30 June 2025
As the Trump Administration continues to champion a lasting ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the combatants appear to be seeking anything but.
Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb at the beginning of June shocked—and educated—militaries around the world by destroying Russian bombers with a barrage of its inexpensive Osa "Wasp" drones (estimated at $500-$2,000 each).
Over the weekend, Russia launched its largest aerial attack on Ukraine, sending a reported 477 drones and 60 ballistic and cruise missiles to destroy homes and infrastructure. Of this number, Ukraine's Air Force claimed to have shot down 249 weapons and caused 226 to miss targets, potentially due to electronic jamming.
However, six people—including a child—were injured, and a Ukrainian F-16 and its pilot were lost in the battle.
"The Russians were targeting everything that sustains life," posted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on X. "Almost all night long, air raid alerts sounded across Ukraine. Most of the drones were Russian-Iranian Shaheds, along with 60 missiles of various types. Emergency services are responding wherever they're needed. Tragically, while repelling the attack, our F-16 pilot, Maksym Ustymenko, died. He destroyed 7 aerial targets. My condolences to his family and brothers-in-arms. I have instructed that all the circumstances of his death be investigated. Ukrainian aviation is heroically protecting our skies. I am grateful to everyone who is defending Ukraine."
Poland also reported that it—and other allied countries—scrambled aircraft to guard Polish airspace.
See Video of the Russian Attack
