Ukraine Launches Largest Drone Attack on Russia, Deploying Over 200 Drones

In an unprecedented military operation, the Ukrainian Armed Forces executed a major series of drone and missile strikes on targets deep within Russian territory. The attack, which occurred overnight on Tuesday, was characterized by the use of more than 200 long-range drones, marking the largest offensive of its nature to date. This data has been corroborated by both Russian and Ukrainian sources.

Among the innovations deployed was a newly introduced drone type named 'Peklo', which translates to 'hell' in Ukrainian. Reports indicate that these drones successfully overwhelmed Russian air defenses, leading to significant fires in key Russian industrial facilities.

The strikes targeted several critical sites across at least seven Russian provinces, including a notable assault on a liquefied gas storage facility in Tatarstan. Video footage showing flames at the scene of a fuel storage depot in the Saratov region has circulated widely on social media.

This recent wave of attacks also saw the involvement of advanced Western weapons systems. Russian military sources confirmed that a combination of at least six American ATACMS missiles and several British Storm Shadow cruise missiles were used, as Ukraine seeks to enhance its strike capabilities against domestic Russian infrastructure. The use of such high-range weaponry has only been possible since US President Joe Biden withdrew restrictions on their deployment last November.

Notably, this offensive follows a series of earlier attacks focused on Russian energy and arms manufacturing sites, which have reportedly resulted in a substantial loss of refinery capabilities. With these ongoing drone assaults, the Ukrainian military is demonstrating its capacity to launch significant strikes far beyond its borders, highlighting the challenges faced by Russia in countering such threats.

Despite these developments, it remains unclear what direct impact these operations will have on the ongoing conflict, as Russian forces have continued to advance in eastern Ukraine.