Russia launched its largest aerial assault of the over three-year war, firing a record 728 Shahed and decoy drones and 13 cruise and ballistic missiles at Ukraine overnight, the Ukrainian air force reported Wednesday. The city of Lutsk, a critical logistical hub in Ukraine’s northwest near Poland and Belarus, bore the brunt of the attack, with 10 other regions also hit, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Lutsk, home to airfields vital for Ukrainian cargo planes and fighter jets, underscores the strategic targeting of western Ukraine’s logistical backbone, which channels foreign military aid. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its forces struck Ukrainian air bases, asserting “all designated targets were hit.” Ukraine’s air defenses countered effectively, downing 296 drones and seven missiles, while 415 drones were jammed or lost from radar, bolstered by increasingly effective Ukrainian interceptor drones developed with Western partners.

The barrage, surpassing last week’s record of 550 drones and missiles, reflects Russia’s strategy to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses with mass drone swarms, including decoys, amid a renewed ground offensive along the 1,000-kilometer front line. Western analysts warn Russia’s drone production is scaling up, potentially enabling 1,000 nightly launches soon, driven by domestic manufacturing and Chinese-sourced components.

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Zelenskyy labeled the attack a Kremlin “message” as U.S.-led peace efforts falter, urging stricter sanctions on Russian oil. Two people were wounded in the Kyiv region, and Poland scrambled jets in response, while Danish PM Mette Frederiksen warned of Russia’s growing threat to Europe.

Russia reported intercepting 86 Ukrainian drones over its regions, including Moscow, with a Ukrainian drone strike in Kursk killing three and injuring seven. The escalating drone warfare highlights both sides’ reliance on unmanned systems, with Ukraine also conducting long-range strikes deep into Russia.

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