Ukraine Executes Massive Drone Wave in One of Largest Aerial Assaults Since Invasion

Secretary Rubio Clarifies U.S. Position on Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Speaking from Manama, Bahrain, Secretary Rubio clarified the U.S. stance regarding alleged agreements with Russia over Ukraine, stating that only a proposal had been made rather than a finalized agreement. He reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to a constructive role in ending the conflict, while noting the staggering casualties, particularly among Russian forces, emphasizing the devastating human cost of the war.

As the brutal conflict persists, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported on Friday that Ukraine launched a massive nighttime drone assault targeting a dozen Russian regions, Russian-occupied Crimea, and adjacent waters. According to the Associated Press, the operation appears to be one of Ukraine’s largest drone attacks since the full-scale invasion began several years ago.

The Russian ministry stated that air defenses intercepted 660 Ukrainian drones. This figure surpasses the previous record from the past year, which saw 556 drones deployed on May 17.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that 47 drones targeting the capital city were neutralized, according to the report.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gestures during his meeting with Britain’s Prime Minister on the sideline of the G7 summit, in Evian, eastern France, on June 16, 2026. (Isabel Infantes / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

Simultaneously, the Ukrainian air force reported that its defenses intercepted 174 of 189 Russian drones overnight, though four Iskander-M ballistic missiles successfully breached defenses and struck various targets.

Despite the ongoing hostilities, the two nations conducted a prisoner exchange on Friday. According to the AP, 160 individuals from each side were repatriated.

In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting via videolink in Moscow on June 25, 2026. (Pavel Byrkin / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

In a post on X, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the return of the captives, stating, “We continue bringing Ukrainians home from Russian captivity. Today, 160 servicemembers were released from captivity. All of them had been held captive since 2022.”

Zelenskyy noted that the released individuals include members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service, the National Guard, and border guards who served in critical sectors including Mariupol, Azovstal, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy.

Trucks are engulfed by smoke from a fire at a parking lot in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on June 25, 2026. (Dmytro Smolienko/Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

“I thank our entire team, which works every day to bring our people back. Special gratitude to all our units on the frontline who replenish Ukraine’s ‘exchange fund’ and, through their courage, make it possible for us to bring people home,” Zelenskyy added. “We remember everyone who remains in captivity. We are checking every name. We must bring everyone back – both military personnel and civilians.”

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