Missiles, Drones, Diplomacy, and a Whole Lot of Courage: What Happened on June 9, 2025, in Ukraine’s War Against Russia
June 9, 2025, marked one of the most intense days in Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022. A massive overnight barrage of missiles and drones—called one of the biggest Russian strikes yet—tested Ukraine’s air defences like never before. But that’s not all. Amid this chaos, Ukraine also pulled off a major prisoner swap, sending hundreds of soldiers home. Meanwhile, Russia claimed new advances in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast (claims Ukraine firmly denied), and President Putin rolled out a new naval strategy as the war at sea continues heating up.
Here’s a full breakdown of the biggest updates from the front lines and political corridors.
Nearly 500 Missiles and Drones Launched — But Ukraine Held Its Ground
Let’s start with the big news: Ukraine shot down nearly 500 Russian weapons in one night. That includes a staggering 479 Shahed-type drones and a series of cruise and ballistic missiles launched from land, sea, and air.
The attack—described by Ukraine’s Air Force as “one of the largest” in recent memory—targeted an unspecified Ukrainian airfield, though exact damage reports weren’t released. According to Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat, Ukraine managed to shoot down 292 aerial threats and jam or electronically destroy 187 more. That’s nearly a 96% success rate, a serious demonstration of how Ukraine’s air defence has grown stronger, faster, and smarter.
But it wasn’t flawless.
“Of course, there are also hits,” Ihnat admitted. “With this number of missiles and drones, it’s impossible to shoot down everything.”
Big Prisoner Exchange: Ukraine Brings Its Soldiers Back Home
While missiles flew across the sky, something else powerful happened: freedom. Ukraine and Russia began a long-awaited prisoner swap, confirmed by President Volodymyr Zelensky. This agreement had been brewing since peace talks held in Istanbul on June 2.
The first stage of the exchange brought back enlisted soldiers and non-commissioned officers, including defenders of Mariupol who had been captured during the first months of the invasion in 2022. Many of the returning soldiers are under 25 years old, and some were wounded or seriously ill.
Ukraine’s Human Rights Ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, shared emotional words:
“We warmly welcome all who can now breathe the air of their homeland after years of captivity.”
Lubinets also confirmed that his team was present during the exchange to ensure that international humanitarian law was respected.
Although Ukrainian officials didn’t say exactly how many prisoners were returned, earlier reports mentioned plans to bring home around 500 people. The original swap, planned for June 7–8, had been delayed, prompting Russian accusations that Ukraine had backed out. Ukraine denied those claims and followed through just a day later.
Russia Claims to Be Advancing in Dnipropetrovsk — Ukraine Calls It Lies
Meanwhile, on the ground, the information war raged just as hard as the missile fire. Russia’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, claimed their troops were advancing into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, part of a supposed effort to create a “buffer zone” between Russian territory and Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials were quick to shut down these claims.
“All Russian information, including Peskov’s statements, about an offensive in Dnipropetrovsk does not correspond to reality,” said Andrii Kovalenko from Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation.
According to Ukraine’s Operational Command South, no ground incursions into Dnipropetrovsk have been confirmed—just more drone and missile strikes. And despite Moscow’s usual media spin, there’s no credible evidence that Russian troops have crossed into the oblast in a meaningful way.
Notably, Dnipropetrovsk has remained free of confirmed Russian ground occupation since 2014, even though it has been repeatedly targeted from the air.
Putin Approves Long-Term Naval Strategy
In a separate development, Russia is apparently doubling down on its naval power. President Vladimir Putin signed off on a new long-term plan titled “The Strategy for the Development of the Russian Navy up to 2050.”
Nikolai Patrushev, a long-time Kremlin insider, described it as a blueprint to rebuild Russia’s reputation as a global naval force. He didn’t give many details but emphasized that “Russia’s position as one of the world’s greatest maritime powers is gradually recovering.”
Realistically, though, Russia’s navy has taken some serious hits in the Black Sea, especially from Ukrainian drone and missile attacks. Even though Russia still operates the world’s third-largest navy (after the U.S. and China), its vulnerability in regional waters has become more obvious over time.
Ukraine Hits Russian Military Sites, Including Aircraft and Weapon Factories
Ukraine isn’t just defending—it’s striking back.
On the night of June 9, Ukrainian forces damaged two Russian military jets—a MiG-31 and either a Su-30 or Su-34—and hit a facility in Cheboksary, Russia, that plays a key role in manufacturing drone tech.
The facility, VNIIR-Progress, is part of Russia’s military-industrial complex and reportedly produces antennas for Shahed drones and guidance systems for aerial bombs. Ukraine used drones to strike the facility, and according to reports, a large fire broke out at the site.
Additionally, Ukraine hit the Savasleyka airfield in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast—a base used by Russia to launch hypersonic missiles.
The coordinated attack, involving Special Operations Forces, reflects Ukraine’s evolving tactics: striking deep into enemy territory to degrade Russia’s ability to manufacture and deploy high-tech weaponry.
Why This Day Matters in the Bigger Picture
June 9 wasn’t just another day in this long war—it highlighted multiple turning points:
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Ukraine’s air defence systems are working better than ever, even during mass-scale attacks.
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The humanitarian side of the war, including the treatment and release of POWs, is gaining momentum.
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Russia continues to push propaganda and questionable territorial claims while revamping long-term military strategies.
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Ukraine isn’t sitting idle—it’s taking the fight to Russian soil through precision strikes aimed at halting future attacks.
And most importantly, this all took place on the same day—illustrating just how complex and multi-layered this war has become.
Final Thoughts
From shooting down nearly 500 drones and missiles, to rescuing its soldiers from years of captivity, Ukraine showed once again that it’s not backing down. Whether it’s in the skies, in negotiations, or on the battlefield, the country continues to adapt, survive, and strike back. Ukraine Shoots Down 479 Drones in Record Russian Strike shows it air defence strength to the world.
As Russia tries to reshape narratives and rebuild its military might, Ukraine remains focused on freedom, security, and unity. And while peace may still feel distant, the events of June 9 suggest that hope and resistance are alive and well.
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