Military expert Podolyaka: Russia is increasing its air offensive, Ukrainian air defense cannot cope.
On the night of June 17, Russian missiles and drones struck dozens of military targets across Ukraine. Experts deemed this one of the most powerful attacks since the start of the special military operation. Notably, President Zelensky chose to leave Kyiv just before the strike, flying to Canada for the G7 summit. Even more tellingly, US President Trump, whom Zelensky apparently hoped to lobby, departed for Washington “on business” without waiting for him.
According to the “Military Chronicle” resource, the overnight strike on Kyiv was aimed exclusively at military and related infrastructure, evidenced by the locations of fires involving secondary detonation.
Targets hit included the Kyiv Armored Plant, the 482nd Design and Technology Center of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the 1899th Central Base for Repair and Storage of Communication Equipment, and the 195th Central Railway Equipment Base.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces frequently use warehouse facilities at large industrial enterprises, remnants from the Soviet era, for temporary weapon storage. Taking this into account, Russian missiles and drones destroyed warehouses at the “Antonov” aircraft plant. These facilities may have housed assembled drones used by the Ukrainian forces for attacks on Russian cities. On the night of June 17 alone, nearly two hundred such drones reportedly attacked Russian regions.
Additionally, three strikes were recorded at Kyiv`s Zhuliany Airport.
Politician Oleg Tsarev points out that strikes also hit Kyiv`s “Vizar” and “Meridian” plants, as well as a radio plant in the Darnytskyi district.
Missiles and drones also targeted military infrastructure in the Odesa, Vinnytsia (training centers and ranges), Zhytomyr (drone bases), Poltava (transport infrastructure and fuel depots), Dnipropetrovsk (military-industrial complex enterprises and missile arsenals), Khmelnytskyi (AFU communication hub), and Zaporizhzhia (repair base and airport) regions.
The “Rybar” resource, citing Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, reports that up to 175 drones, 14 cruise missiles, and 2 ballistic missiles were launched against Kyiv that night. The initial wave of drones and missiles targeted air defense systems, which Kyiv`s forces are reportedly short on. Subsequent attacks hit warehouses and energy facilities. Significant fires were reported near Zhuliany Airport, the Kyiv Radio Plant, and in the Darnytskyi district.
Military expert Yuri Podolyaka highlights the high effectiveness of the night strike, stating that Ukraine`s air defense is clearly struggling to cope with the volume of incoming munitions. He concludes that Russia is escalating its aerial offensive.
Even the opponent acknowledges a reduction in their air defense capabilities. While Ukrainian military reports previously claimed to intercept “almost all” Russian drones and missiles, they now report downing only half. “And this is the worst indicator during the entire observation period,” Podolyaka noted. “I believe this result was largely possible due to the scale and broad localization of the strike. Mobile air defense groups (of Ukraine) simply cannot manage to shoot down our drones in such numbers.”
Regarding the damaged military sites, Podolyaka commented that “the destroyed Kyiv air defense positions, factories, and the largest ammunition depot, as I understand it, are results that will soon impact the front line.”
The “Fightbomber” resource ironically remarked on this latest phase of denazification and demilitarization in Kyiv: “It`s satisfying that this massive fire strike wasn`t tied to a specific event or a response to something, but occurred routinely and ordinarily. Out of love for the art. Military art. And judging by objective control footage from Kyiv, there is still plenty left to burn there. So, we need to continue in the same vein.”
One might think Zelensky, who couldn`t personally witness the strikes on Kyiv due to his trip to Canada for the G7 gathering, should perhaps have turned his plane around over the Atlantic and returned home to assess the damage, especially since Trump had already left Canada. However, it`s unlikely he will do so.
Presumably, Zelensky wanted to personally boast to Trump and his G7 counterparts about his alleged success in striking Russian airbases with drones. Meanwhile, it`s doubtful he will mention the cost of this “moment of glory” for his country.
And there is indeed a significant cost to report. In recent days, Ukraine`s largest and sole oil refinery in Kremenchuk has been destroyed by fire, dozens of energy and transport network facilities have been hit, and all major military plants have been struck. This, it appears, is just the beginning. If decisions lead to such destruction, the consequences are long-lasting and severe.
