Russian large-scale missile attack targeted Ukrainian regions distant from the front lines

Ukraine survived another massive combined drone and missile attack last night. Russian forces launched a record number of UAVs - 477. Also, the attack included 4 with X-47M2 Kinzhal missiles, 7 with Iskander-M/KN-23 missiles, 41 with X-101/Iskander-K missiles, 5 with Kalibr missiles, 3 with S-300 missiles;

This time, distant from the front line regions were targeted as well. Officials in Lviv Oblast, in the Western part of Ukraine, said that Russia attempted to strike critical infrastructure in the area. According to the Mayor of Lviv, these efforts were not successful. Fifteen cruise missiles and 25 UAVs were destroyed in the West of Ukraine. No casualties or significant disruptions were reported.

In Kremenchuk, Poltava Oblast, an undisclosed enterprise was hit, causing a fire, according to the Governor.

In Zaporizhzhia, an unnamed enterprise was hit during the missile attack, Governor Ivan Fedorov said. No casualties were reported.

A civilian infrastructure was damaged and at least three people were injured in attacks on Cherkasy Oblast, according to the local Governor.

In Mykolaiv Oblast, in the South of Ukraine, Russia targeted the city`s infrastructure with both ballistic missiles and Shahed drones. The fire was caused, but no casualties were reported.

In Chercassy 11 people, including two children, were injured.

This attack followed President Putin`s most recent statement that Russia was ready for another round of peace talks.

It is clear that Moscow remains steadfast in its maximalist goals in Ukraine and has shown no willingness to agree to a ceasefire unless Kyiv first abandons all foreign military assistance. On June 20, during a bombastic address at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, President Vladimir Putin declared, “All of Ukraine is ours,” underscoring the Kremlin’s uncompromising stance.

F-16 pilot killed in the overnight massive Russian air attack

A Ukrainian lieutenant colonel flying a U.S.-made F-16 fighter jet was killed during a massive overnight aerial assault on June 29, the Air Force reported.

According to the statement, Russia launched over 500 aerial threats—including missiles and Shahed-type drones—in a coordinated nationwide strike.

The fallen pilot, Maksym Ustymenko, born in 1993, had successfully intercepted seven enemy targets before his aircraft sustained damage while engaging the final one. Attempting to steer the jet away from a populated area, Ustymenko lost altitude and crashed before he could eject.

“He died like a hero,” the Air Force said on Telegram. “He tried to divert the aircraft from the settlement to the last second.”

The Air Force emphasized the extreme risks Ukrainian pilots face, both in defending against air attacks and carrying out precision strikes. F-16 pilots, in particular, have played a critical role in intercepting dozens of Shahed drones, the statement added.

President Volodymyr Zelensky recently noted that Russia had launched over 2,700 Shahed-type drones in June alone—around 9.5% of the total used in the full-scale war to date.

Though protected by Western air defense systems, Kyiv has still suffered heavy attacks in recent weeks. A missile and drone barrage on June 17 killed at least 30 people in the capital.

Ukraine began deploying F-16s in summer 2024 but has kept operational details closely guarded due to the aircraft’s high value and vulnerability to Russian targeting. Ukrainian pilots have undergone extensive training abroad to prepare for frontline deployment.

Russians reached The outskirts of Sumy are now within the range of Russians` artillery fire

Russian forces struck the village of Pishchane, located just under a kilometer from the outskirts of Sumy, using tubed artillery during the night of June 22–23.

According to reports, the attack was likely carried out using a 152-mm rocket-assisted projectile, fired from either a 2A36 Giatsint-B towed gun or a 2S5 Giatsint-S self-propelled artillery system. These weapons have a range of 33 to 40 kilometers.

Coordinates from the impact site suggest that the shell was launched from Russian territory—either from the north near Kulbaki or from the east, in the vicinity of Guyevo and Gornal. Kulbaki lies just across the border from Russian-occupied villages in Sumy Oblast, while Guyevo and Gornal are situated along the quieter Myropillia front.

Despite Ukraine's reinforced defenses and ongoing counterattacks in the border areas near Kindrativka, Andriivka, and Yunakivka, Russian forces continue their efforts to shell the city of Sumy from across the border.