Russia has advanced around Pokrovsk for many months, but has so far failed to entirely encircle or seize control of the city.

Kyiv said the French fighter, one of six in its air force, was performing a flight mission but was not shot down by Russian fire.

The barrage of exploding drones and missiles appeared to be the most intense attack since President Trump announced a plan to get more weapons for Kyiv.

Russian aviation faced big delays due to the threat posed by Ukrainian drones, while Moscow's attacks on Ukraine killed at least one person.

The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War noted that cooperation with China has allowed Russia to bypass Western sanctions on imports of electronics for drone production. Ukraine’s military intelligence estimates that Russia receives up to 65% of components for its Geran drones from China. Beijing rejects the claims.

Between September 2022 and August 2023, Russia launched around 2,000 Iranian-designed Shahed drones into Ukraine, according to the conflict monitor Airwars. That figure has surged in 2025. In June alone, Russia launched a record 5,337 Shahed-type drones, comprising both attack and decoy variants.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is stalling over a ceasefire. Meanwhile, Trump has changed his mind about sending weapons to Ukraine.