Russia Fires 70 Missiles And 611 Drones At Ukraine, Kyiv Strikes Back Deep Inside Russia

Kyiv: Russia launched one of its biggest aerial attacks of the entire war overnight. Seventy missiles and 611 drones were fired at targets across Ukraine. The scale of the assault is among the heaviest combined attacks Moscow has carried out in recent months. Ukraine hit back hard, striking an oil facility and a major chemical plant deep inside Russian territory.

What Ukraine's air defences did?

The Ukrainian military said air defences intercepted 50 missiles and 582 drones during the overnight barrage. Multiple regions across the country were targeted. The attacks came through the night and stretched air defence resources across a wide area.

First responders have put out the fires in Kyiv – at the Lavra and the Mystetskyi Arsenal. I am grateful to all the services working at the sites of the strikes, and to everyone who is helping. It has been confirmed that two Russian drones deliberately targeted the part of the… pic.twitter.com/EwfUTXWAsj

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 15, 2026

What had Russia claimed?

Russia's defence ministry said its forces struck military-industrial facilities and military airfields in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro. The ministry was blunt about it. It said all strikes were successful and every objective was achieved. Russian officials rarely acknowledge failures in such statements.

Ukraine strikes inside Russia

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed Ukraine's retaliatory strikes. Ukrainian forces hit an oil facility in Russia's Yaroslavl region. They also struck the Azot chemical plant in the Tula region. Zelenskyy said the Azot plant is a key part of Russia's explosives production chain. Knocking it out directly hurts Moscow's ability to keep supplying ammunition to the front. Ukrainian forces also targeted Russian military logistics infrastructure in occupied parts of Ukraine.
Zelenskyy framed the strikes as part of a deliberate plan. He said Ukraine is carrying out long-range pressure on Russia and will continue mid-range strikes in response to Russia's refusal to stop the war.

Russia admitted drone hits?

Yaroslavl region governor Mikhail Yevryaev confirmed the Ukrainian drone assault on his region. He said it was large-scale. Most drones were intercepted but some got through. Those that did hit fuel storage facilities and triggered a major fire. Yevryaev also warned residents that another drone attack could come later in the day.

What is the bigger picture?

Ukraine has been building its drone and missile capabilities steadily throughout the war. Kyiv has shifted its focus this year towards hitting Russian oil facilities, logistics hubs and military-industrial sites far from the front line. The goal is to squeeze Russia's ability to keep the war going. Russia meanwhile keeps launching mass aerial attacks trying to break Ukrainian infrastructure and morale. Neither side is showing any sign of stepping back.