---
title: "Massive Attack: 132 Drones and 'Iskanders' Against Ukraine — June 16 Night Results"
description: "🚨 Massive Attack: Russia launched 132 drones and 2 'Iskander-M' missiles at Ukraine. Air defense shot down 114 targets, but the threat remains. 🏰 The Kharkiv Zoo and the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra were hit, where a catastrophe was averted. 🛡️"
date: 2026-06-16T06:14:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/massive-attack-132-drones-and-iskanders-against-ukraine-june-16-results
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Massive Attack: 132 Drones and 'Iskanders' Against Ukraine — June 16 Night Results

![Ukrainian soldiers on a Toyota Hilux with an anti-aircraft machine gun in a coastal area during a massive drone and Iskander missile attack on June 16](https://xab.info/media/2026/06/16/massirovannaya-ataka-132-drona-i-iskandery-protiv-ukrainy-16-iyunya/massirovannaya-ataka-132-drona-i-iskandery-protiv-ukrainy-16-iyunya-1.webp)

The night from June 15 to 16 became one of the most tense for the Ukrainian sky in recent times. The Russian Federation made a large-scale attempt to breach air defenses, deploying an unprecedented number of strike assets. According to the Air Force of Ukraine briefing, more than 130 drones and two ballistic missiles were launched as part of this operation.

### Strike Details: From 'Iskanders' to Imitator Drones

The attack began on the afternoon of June 15, after 18:00, and continued through the night. The core of the missile strike consisted of two 'Iskander-M' ballistic missiles, which were launched from the territory of the Rostov region. This is high-precision, long-range weaponry capable of striking strategically important targets.

However, the main blow was delivered by unmanned aerial vehicles. 132 drones of various types took to the sky. The list of equipment used includes Iranian 'Shaheds', Russian 'Gerbers' and 'Italmas', as well as 'Parody' imitator drones designed to overload air defense systems with false targets.

Launches were carried out not from a single point, but from several directions, complicating the interception task. Strike groups departed from Shatalovo, Orel, Kursk, Bryansk, Millerovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk.

### Air Defense Operations: Figures and Facts

Ukrainian air defense systems operated in standard mode, detecting activity in the north, south, and east of the country. Preliminary data indicates that Ukrainian defenders managed to neutralize 114 enemy drones. Neutralization methods ranged from direct interception to electronic warfare jamming.

Despite the successful performance of the air defense, the situation remains tense: some enemy unmanned aerial vehicles are still in Ukrainian airspace, requiring heightened vigilance from the military and the population.

### Attack Consequences: From Zoos to Ancient Cathedrals

Massive strikes cause damage not only to infrastructure but also to cultural heritage and civilian life. Yesterday, during the previous wave of attacks, a strike was launched at the Kharkiv Zoo. As a result of a drone hit, 10 rabbits were killed, and enclosures were damaged.

Particular attention was drawn to an incident in Kyiv. A 'Shahed' drone hit the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, causing a fire covering 800 square meters. Thanks to the prompt work of rescuers, the historical monument was saved from complete destruction, and unique relics were evacuated before the fire could destroy them.