On June 9, 2025, Ukraine's air force announced that Russia launched 479 drones in what has been described as the largest overnight drone bombardment of the ongoing conflict.

In addition to the drones, Russian forces fired 20 missiles at various locations within Ukraine, primarily targeting central and western regions of the country.

According to the Ukrainian air force, their defenses successfully intercepted and destroyed 277 drones and 19 missiles during the assault.

They reported that only a total of 10 drones or missiles managed to reach their intended targets.

However, independent verification of these claims has not been possible.

The pattern of aerial assaults indicates that Russia typically conducts such attacks late at night, strategically timed to exploit reduced visibility for detection of unmanned aerial vehicles.

This tactic aligns with Russia's broader military strategy throughout the conflict, which has persisted for more than three years.

Civilian casualties have been a significant concern during this time, with reports from the United Nations indicating that over 12,000 Ukrainian civilians have lost their lives due to such aerial attacks.

The Russian government maintains that its operations are exclusively aimed at military objectives, despite widespread damage to civilian infrastructure and loss of life.

These developments highlight the continuous and intense nature of aerial warfare in the conflict, with implications for both military strategy and humanitarian considerations in the region.