Sun Feb 23 13:23:47 UTC 2025: ## Russia Launches Record Drone Attack on Ukraine on Anniversary of Invasion

**KYIV, Ukraine** – Russia launched its largest single drone attack on Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began, targeting at least 13 regions on February 23rd, 2025, the eve of the war’s third anniversary. Ukrainian authorities reported that Russia deployed 267 drones in a coordinated assault, exceeding previous attacks.

Ukraine’s Air Force Command spokesman, Yuriy Ignat, stated that 138 drones were intercepted by air defenses. Another 119 drones, identified as decoys or employing jamming techniques, were rendered ineffective without causing damage. Three ballistic missiles were also launched. While damage was reported in five regions, including Kyiv, the fate of the remaining 10 drones remains unclear. A separate armed forces statement confirmed that several regions were hit.

The attack resulted in one fatality and five injuries in Kryvyi Rig. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released video footage showcasing the successful interception of several drones.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack as “aerial terror,” reporting over 200 drones launched in the overnight assault. He highlighted the scale of Russian attacks over the past week, totaling nearly 1,150 attack drones, over 1,400 guided aerial bombs, and 35 missiles. He thanked Ukraine’s air defenses and called for continued unity among allies to secure lasting peace.

This large-scale attack comes amid a backdrop of near-nightly drone attacks by Russia, aimed at depleting Ukrainian air defenses. Ukraine, in turn, has consistently targeted Russian military bases and industrial sites within Russia to disrupt logistics.

Adding to the geopolitical tensions, US President Donald Trump’s recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin has sparked concerns in Kyiv and Europe. Trump’s outreach to Moscow, coupled with his verbal attacks on President Zelenskyy and a US-Russia meeting in Riyadh excluding Ukraine, has raised alarms. The Kremlin hailed the Trump-Putin dialogue as promising and reiterated its refusal to cede territory seized in eastern Ukraine. However, the potential for a truce remains uncertain.

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