Ukraine braces after Russia’s massive drone-missile barrage as Kyiv unveils homegrown glide bomb
Russia launched a large night-time strike against Ukraine with roughly 546 drones and missiles, including 14 ballistic missiles; Ukraine claimed it shot down most missiles and drones but said strikes damaged civilian infrastructure in Dnipro, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa and other areas. Ukraine announced its first domestically produced guided glide bomb (250 kg payload) ready for combat, signaling a boost to battlefield air interdiction. The Russian economy remains strained by war costs, sanctions, and shrinking oil refining capacity, with a large deficit and liquidity pressures. Kremlin leadership rotation discussions surfaced, with reports that Alexander Lapin could replace Andrei Kartapolov as defense committee chair. Belarus and Russia began joint nuclear exercises, illustrating deeper military integration. On the battlefield, Ukrainian forces reported advances in the Oleksandrivka direction and continued long-range strikes against Russian oil infrastructure, which undermines Moscow’s revenues.