Ukraine executes massive drone attack against Russia amid ongoing war
Secretary Rubio clarifies US stance on Russia, Ukraine conflict
Secretary Rubio clarifies the US stance on alleged agreements with Russia over Ukraine from Manama, Bahrain. He states there was only a proposal, not a full agreement, and that the US remains committed to playing a constructive role in ending the bloody war. Rubio notes the high casualties, particularly among Russian soldiers, highlighting the conflict’s devastating impact.
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As the brutal war between the two nations continues to rage, Ukraine conducted a significant nighttime assault against a dozen Russian regions, Russian-held Crimea as well as the surrounding seas, Russia’s Ministry of Defense indicated on Friday, according to The Associated Press, which reported that the effort appeared to be one Ukraine’s largest drone attacks since Russia’s full-scale invasion several years ago.
The ministry reported that the country’s air defenses intercepted a whopping 660 Ukrainian drones, according to the outlet, which noted that the prior largest Ukrainian assault during the past year included 556 drones last month on May 17.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin indicated that 47 Ukrainian drones were taken out as they headed for the capital city, according to the report.
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Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky gestures during his meeting with Britain’s Prime Minister on the sideline of the G7 summit, in Evian, eastern France, on June 16, 2026. (Isabel Infantes / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
The AP reported that Ukraine’s air force indicated that the nation’s defenses stopped 174 of 189 Russian drones overnight, though four out of seven Iskander-M ballistic missiles breached air defenses and hit various places.
But even as the years-long war between the two countries drags on, the bitter enemies engaged in a prisoner swap, according to the AP, which reported that officials said 160 individuals from each side were going home on Friday.
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In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting via videolink in Moscow on June 25, 2026. (Pavel Byrkin / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted in a Friday post on X, “We continue bringing Ukrainians home from Russian captivity. Today, 160 servicemembers were released from captivity. All of them had been held captive since 2022.”
“Among those released today are servicemembers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service, National Guard warriors, and border guards. They defended Ukraine in Mariupol and at Azovstal, as well as in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy sectors,” he continued.
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Trucks are engulfed by smoke from a fire at a parking lot in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on June 25, 2026. (Dmytro Smolienko/Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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“I thank our entire team, which works every day to bring our people back. Special gratitude to all our units on the frontline who replenish Ukraine’s ‘exchange fund’ and, through their courage, make it possible for us to bring people home. We remember everyone who remains in captivity. We are checking every name. We must bring everyone back – both military personnel and civilians,” Zelenskyy added.
The Associated Press contributed to this report