On July 9, 2025, Russia unleashed a massive barrage of 728 drones and six hypersonic missiles across Ukraine, marking the largest single-day drone attack of the ongoing war. The northwestern city of Lutsk, located 200 km from NATO-member Poland, bore the brunt of the assault. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reported damage in 10 other provinces, with one fatality from drone debris in western Ukraine and eight deaths in the Donetsk region. Ukrainian air defenses downed most of the drones, but some missiles caused unspecified damage, highlighting the strain on the country’s defense systems.
Key Details of the Attack
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Scale: 728 drones and six hypersonic missiles, a record for a single assault.
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Primary Target: Lutsk, with damage to buildings, a storage facility, and parking structures.
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Casualties: One death in western Ukraine, eight in Donetsk.
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Polish Response: Poland scrambled jets to secure its airspace due to the proximity of the strikes.
Trump’s Pledge and Shifting U.S. Policy
The attack followed President Trump’s promise to supply Ukraine with more defensive weapons, reversing a recent Pentagon decision to stall critical munitions deliveries. This shift came amid Trump’s unusually direct criticism of Putin, a departure from his earlier conciliatory tone toward Moscow. Trump also indicated support for a Senate bill proposing 500% tariffs on nations purchasing Russian oil, gas, and uranium, aligning with Zelenskiy’s call for “biting sanctions” to curb Russia’s war funding.
“The attack shows the need for biting sanctions on the sources of income Russia uses to finance the war,” Zelenskiy said on Telegram.
Global Reactions and Diplomatic Stalemate
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared that diplomatic efforts to end the war have been exhausted, vowing continued support for Kyiv. This sentiment reflects growing frustration as initial Russia-Ukraine talks, including a Trump-proposed unconditional ceasefire accepted by Kyiv but rejected by Moscow, have yielded little progress. Zelenskiy has ordered expanded U.S. contactsម
System: contacts to ensure critical military supplies, particularly air defense systems. Trump’s envoy, Keith Kellogg, is set to attend an international aid conference in Rome on July 10-11, signaling ongoing U.S. engagement.
Impact on Ukraine and Regional Tensions
The assault forced residents of Kyiv and other cities into air raid shelters, including metro stations, as air raid sirens echoed through the night. The proximity of the strikes to Poland raised regional concerns, prompting Polish and allied aircraft to activate for air safety. Lutsk’s mayor, Ihor Polishchuk, reported no deaths in the city despite significant damage, marking it as the largest strike on the city of 200,000.