Russia launched its largest drone attack on Kiev since the war's beginning, with 73 UAVs targeting the capital and surrounding regions. Air defense intercepted 50 of them during a three-hour assault. The attack followed yesterday's reports of Russia's 500,000-strong force and continued the pattern of escalating aerial warfare seen this week.
By midday, Ukrainian forces reported striking a Russian S-400 air defense system in Kursk, marking continued cross-border operations following recent Storm Shadow strikes. SBU revealed fragments of the "Oreshnik" missile that struck Dnipro, providing first documentation of this new weapon system.
Evening reports indicated Russian preparations for a breakthrough in southern Donetsk, while The Economist detailed new fortifications near Zaporizhzhia. Poland's farmers ended their border protest early, while Romania's presidential election showed leading support for the pro-Ukrainian candidate.