Ukraine Launches Record Drone Attack on Russia, Moscow Claims 822 UAVs Shot Down

On the night of August 16, Ukraine carried out one of the largest drone attacks on Russian territory since the war began. According to Russia's TASS news agency, 822 drones were intercepted over more than a dozen Russian regions, occupied Crimea, and the Azov and Black Seas — making it the most massive strike since the start of the year.

One of the primary targets was the largest warehouse belonging to Russian online retailer Wildberries, located in Podolsk near Moscow. A major fire broke out, prompting authorities to deploy helicopters to assist firefighting crews, according to the Telegram channel Astra. The company later confirmed the strike, stating that a fire had broken out at the logistics facility but that staff had been evacuated safely in accordance with safety procedures.

Casualties and Damage Across Russian Regions

Rostov region Governor Yuri Slyusar reported that 150 drones were shot down over the region, with the attack claiming five lives. The heaviest damage was recorded in the city of Kamensk-Shakhtinsky.

According to TASS, the previous record for the most massive attack since the beginning of 2026 was set on June 26, when Russian air defense forces reported downing 660 drones. Russia typically only discloses figures for intercepted drones, without revealing data on aircraft that actually reached their targets.

Russia's Retaliatory Strikes on Ukrainian Cities

The same night saw Russia launch its own strikes. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Kyiv, Kremenchuk, and Kryvyi Rih came under attack. Russia used Iskander-M ballistic missiles, Kh-59/69 guided air missiles, and launched 106 drones at Ukraine. The Ukrainian Air Force reported shooting down 85 of the drones, along with three Kh-59/69 guided missiles.

According to Ukrainska Pravda, one person was killed and 13 others injured in the strike on Kryvyi Rih. At least five explosions rocked Kyiv, injuring three people. Four more deaths were recorded in the Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions. In the Sumy region, one person was killed when a Russian drone struck a vehicle.

Source: novinky.cz