On the night of June 21, Ukraine faced a massive combined attack from Russia. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the enemy launched an unprecedented number of strike assets, including ballistic missiles and kamikaze drones.

Nature and Scale of the Strike

According to information published by RBC-Ukraine citing official sources, the Russian side employed a wide spectrum of weapons. The attack involved:

  • 2 ballistic missiles, identified as Iskander-M or S-400 system missiles;
  • 2 air-launched ballistic missiles (Kinzhals);
  • 105 unmanned aerial vehicles (drones).

Ukrainian air defense forces repelled the strike, shooting down the overwhelming majority of targets. As of 09:00 AM, the destruction or suppression of 96 enemy drones of various types was confirmed, including Shahed, Gerbera, and Italmas. Combat took place in the north, south, east, and center of the country.

Consequences of the Attack

Despite the effective work of the air defense, it was not possible to avoid all hits. Direct hits by ballistic missiles and six strike drones were recorded at six different locations. Additionally, debris falls were noted in five locations, creating a threat to infrastructure and the population.

The Ukrainian Air Force warned that the air threat remains: "The attack is ongoing, enemy drones are in the airspace. Observe safety rules!"

Assessment of the Situation by Ukrainian Leadership

Ukrainian Minister of Defense Mykhailo Fedorov commented on the nature of the recent shelling, particularly the strikes on Kyiv. In his opinion, this is an attempt by Moscow to exert moral pressure on the Ukrainian population. At the same time, Fedorov noted that the current scale of attacks indicates the limit of Russia's capabilities, which had been accumulating resources for weeks to conduct such operations.

Earlier, on June 20, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned citizens about the preparation of a new shelling by the RF, urging them to respond carefully to air raid sirens. In the context of previous attacks, in particular the combined strike on the night of June 15, Zelenskyy noted that Ukrainian air defense had sufficient means to intercept ballistic missiles thanks to the delivered aid package for Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems.