Russia downs 361 drones in one of war’s largest strikes; NATO scrambles jets

Russia said on Sunday its forces shot down at least 361 Ukrainian drones overnight in one of the largest aerial assaults since the start of the conflict. The barrage included several guided bombs and a US-made HIMARS missile, according to the defence ministry.

The strikes targeted multiple regions, including the Kirishi oil refinery in northwest Russia, one of the country’s biggest energy facilities. A fire broke out but was quickly contained, and no casualties were reported.

Kyiv has intensified attacks on Russian energy infrastructure in recent months in an attempt to weaken Moscow’s war economy. Refineries, pipelines, and storage depots have all been targeted, forcing Russia to expand air defence systems deep inside its territory.

The escalation spilled into NATO borders. Romania confirmed a drone had entered its airspace on Saturday, prompting two F-16 jets to scramble before the object disappeared from radar. Poland too reported nearly 20 Russian drones crossing into its territory earlier this week, sparking a heightened state of alert.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia’s drone operations were widening the war. He urged Western allies to impose fresh sanctions and establish a collective defence system. “Do not wait for dozens of Shaheds and ballistic missiles before finally making decisions,” he said.

In Washington, President Donald Trump repeated that he was prepared to impose major sanctions on Moscow, but only if NATO members acted in unison and stopped buying Russian oil. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meanwhile warned that if Russia’s drone breach of Polish airspace was deliberate, it would be “highly escalatory.”

The developments underline how intensifying drone warfare is heightening both battlefield risks and tensions along NATO’s eastern flank.