The air force said 436 drones and 38 missiles were downed by air defenses, with the help of U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets whose pilots shot down "dozens" of attack drones. "The work of Ukrainian fighters is extremely dangerous," it said.

The overnight attack was one of the largest on Ukraine and included strikes in the western part of the country, which is hit less often.

This significant escalation by Russia undermines peace negotiations aimed at resolving the enduring conflict, now in its third year. Ukrainian air defense managed to intercept 249 of these threats. ,