In an unprecedented military operation, Russian armed forces conducted the most large-scale drone attack since the beginning of the conflict, launching an impressive 728 unmanned devices on the night of July 9, 2025. The Ukrainian Air Force reported an extremely high intensity of the air operation, which included over 300 "Shahid" drones, accompanied by 13 strategic "Kinzhal" and "Iskander" missiles.
The scale of the attack exceeds all previous records – in February 2025, 267 drones were recorded, and by the end of June, the number reached 539 units. Out of a total of 741 aerial targets, Ukrainian defense demonstrated exceptional effectiveness, managing to neutralize 718 objects through various tactical approaches.
The specific results of the air defense include: 296 drones shot down through direct fire strike; 415 drones lost through radar observation or suppressed by electronic countermeasures; and 7 destroyed "Iskander" cruise missiles.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy immediately reacted to the incident with a sharp call for international sanctions against the aggressor. In an emotional statement, he described the attack as "demonstrative" and emphasized its provocative nature at a moment of attempts to reach a peaceful agreement.
A key emphasis in the head of state's speech was the demands for introducing "painful" restrictions on Russian oil exports. Zelenskyy insisted on secondary sanctions against countries that continue to buy Russian hydrocarbons, defining this trade as directly "sponsoring murders".
Economic analyses confirm the critical role of oil revenues for the Russian war machine. At the moment, oil and gas form nearly one-third of the state budget and over 60% of the country's export capacity. Since the beginning of the conflict, Russia has generated an impressive 883 billion euros from fossil fuel exports.
The European Union is currently working on the 18th sanctions package, which provides for a drastic tightening of oil trade rules. Zelenskyy categorically called on allies to take decisive actions for economic isolation of Russia.
The information is confirmed by the official Telegram channel of President Zelenskyy, which presents the details of the unprecedented military operation.