State of the World from NPR Russia's Largest Bombardment of Ukraine
Jun 30, 2025
In a shocking turn of events, Ukraine faced its largest air assault yet, with over 500 drones and missiles raining down. This unprecedented bombardment struck deep into Western Ukraine, affecting civilians far from the front lines. Amidst the chaos, a correspondent in Kyiv shares on-the-ground insights. The podcast further delves into the evolving drone warfare, highlighting Russia’s tactics and Ukraine’s adaptive responses. Meanwhile, there are faint glimmers of hope for peace talks, as discussions between the nations continue, albeit with challenges ahead.
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Scaling Up Air Assaults
- Russia's air assaults on Ukraine have intensified, launching about 2,500 drones and missiles weekly recently.
- The weekend's attack was the largest since the 2022 invasion, despite fewer casualties than some previous strikes.
Drone Overload Strategy
- Russia launches many drones to overwhelm and exhaust Ukraine's air defense systems.
- Some drones also act as decoys, complicating defense efforts, especially in cities with limited air defense.
Odessa Speedboat Defense
- Ukrainian navy uses speed boats with mounted machine guns to defend Odessa against Iranian-designed Shahid drones.
- The drones now arrive in such large groups that complete interception becomes impossible.