Overnight Russian Drone Strike: 138 of 154 Drones Shot Down, Fatalities Reported in Zaporizhzhia.

Large-Scale Aerial Assault on Ukraine

According to Novyny.live: Russian forces launched a massive drone attack on Ukraine, deploying 154 unmanned aerial vehicles. Ukrainian defenders successfully destroyed or jammed 138 of them using electronic warfare systems. The assault began at 6:00 PM on June 29 and continued through the night into June 30.

Strike Impact and Casualties

During the attack, 13 drones struck targets across 10 locations. In Zaporizhzhia, three civilians were killed and eight others wounded. Two sites suffered damage from falling debris of intercepted drones. The launches originated from the Russian cities of Kursk and Oryol, as well as from Donetsk and Hvardiyske.

Units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) repelled the aerial assault, neutralizing the majority of drones that threatened populated areas. This incident is part of the ongoing military conflict in eastern Ukraine, where drone warfare has become a hallmark of the fighting.

The event underscores the volatile security situation in the region, where drone use is now routine in the conflict. While the high interception rate highlights Ukraine’s air defense capabilities, the civilian deaths in Zaporizhzhia reveal the severe toll on non-combatants. Such attacks are likely to shape future security conditions and military strategies on both sides.