• Ukraine launches one of its largest drone attacks, employing 660 drones.
• The operation includes strikes on Russian territory and Crimea, disrupting power supplies.
• Ukrainian President Zelensky announces a "40-day influence operation" to end the war.

In a significant escalation of conflict, Ukraine has launched one of its heaviest drone assaults since the war began, targeting 12 regions within Russia and the Crimea Peninsula. According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, air defenses intercepted 660 Ukrainian drones during the nighttime attack, marking it as the largest such incident since the Kremlin's full-scale invasion over four years ago. The previous high was recorded at 556 drones on May 17, indicating a notable increase in Ukraine’s operational capacity, according to scmp, indiatimes, latimes, and cbsnews.

Ukraine's intensified campaign of drone strikes aims to dismantle critical infrastructure behind Russian lines, especially targeting oil facilities and military logistics hubs, severely disrupting Russian fuel supplies and military operations. The strikes have placed further pressure on President Vladimir Putin as analysts noted that the ongoing drone campaign has effectively stalled Russian efforts on the battlefield, according to scmp, indiatimes, latimes, and cbsnews.

As a response to these drone attacks, the pro-Moscow governor of Crimea announced a regional state of emergency, citing widespread disruption and power outages across the peninsula. The declaration was made to better manage the fallout from what is deemed one of the most significant periods of aerial assaults since the invasion began. Local authorities in Crimea have reported damage and outages, particularly in the cities of Sevastopol and Kerch, according to scmp, indiatimes, latimes, and cbsnews.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has communicated a strategy dubbed a “40-day influence operation,” aimed at augmenting pressure on Russia to negotiate an end to the war, indicating an escalation of military efforts coinciding with inaccessible diplomatic resolutions. He mentioned optimistic discussions and commitments for military assistance during a recent G7 summit, enhancing Ukraine's capabilities, according to scmp, indiatimes, latimes, and cbsnews.