[108360] Massive UAV attack on Ukraine: Hundreds of aircraft launched towards Kyiv and other regions

A night of fire: Massive UAV attack on Ukraine

During the night between July 1 and July 2, 2026, Ukraine experienced one of the most extensive UAV attacks since the outbreak of the war. According to the Times of Ukraine channel, which identifies with positions supporting the Zelensky administration and the Ukrainian war effort, monitoring systems identified the potential for the launch of up to 970 unmanned aerial vehicles of various types throughout the night and morning.

The channel reports that in response to the attack, approximately 400 Ukrainian UAVs were launched towards targets in Russia in a large-scale retaliatory operation. Local Ukrainian channels, such as Київ Головне, reported on a series of incessant attack waves that included the use of fast jet-powered UAVs aimed directly at the capital city, Kyiv. The strikes led to the outbreak of fires within the city, as noted in reports from Київ Головне.

The Труха⚡️Київ channel noted that at least 12 jet-powered UAVs were detected on their way to Kyiv, while additional waves of up to 8 aircraft were observed heading to the city throughout the night. At the same time, intense aerial activity was recorded in other regions as well; Труха⚡️Дניפרו reported about 4 UAVs making their way to the center of the Dnipro region.

Real-time open-source intelligence assessments pointed to multiple launch sources, including from the Kursk region. While the Ukrainian reports focus on the damage and defense systems, they emphasize the extraordinary intensity of the Russian attack tonight, which included, according to Times of Ukraine, "over 70 separate waves" of UAV launches.