Ukrainian Air Force stated on Monday (June 9) that Russia launched the largest drone attack since the outbreak of the conflict against Ukraine, causing damage to a military airport in western Ukraine. It is believed to be one of the main targets of the Russian military.
According to Reuters, this was the latest round of retaliation by Russia after Ukraine recently attacked a Russian airbase inside their territory and destroyed multiple Russian strategic bombers.
The Ukrainian Air Force’s statement mentioned that a total of 479 drones and 20 missiles were launched by Russian forces, with 460 drones and 19 missiles being shot down.
Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat stated that the main target of this attack was a “military airport,” confirming that the airport was “hit,” but did not provide further details on the extent of the damage. Local officials in western Ukraine indicated that the airport is located in Dubno, approximately 60 kilometers from the Polish border.
Polish military authorities announced that they had already deployed Polish and allied aircraft on Monday morning to ensure airspace security.
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the attack was in response to Ukraine’s drone strike on Russian military bases earlier this month, claiming that “all designated targets have been hit.”
The Russia-Ukraine war has been ongoing for over three years, with recent escalations in the conflict. Despite initiating new rounds of peace talks this month, both sides have yet to make substantial progress.
There are serious differences between the two sides on how to end the war. Ukraine demands an unconditional ceasefire as a starting point for negotiations, while Russia has repeatedly rejected this proposal.
Meanwhile, Russian President Putin approved a naval development strategy covering until 2050 on Monday, aiming to fully restore Russia’s status as a global maritime power. Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, the Russian fleet has suffered heavy losses from Ukrainian attacks. Moscow has increased defense spending to Cold War levels and is pushing for modernization of its military arsenal.
On the same day, NATO is preparing for a significant military expansion. Secretary-General Mark Rutte is expected to deliver a speech at the Chatham House in London, urging member states to enhance their aerial and missile defense capabilities by 400% in response to the security challenges posed by Russia.