On the night of June 18, Ukraine was subjected to a massive air attack. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, as reported by RBC-Ukraine, Russia launched an unprecedented number of munitions against the country: 7 ballistic missiles and 239 attack drones. This became one of the largest attacks in recent times, requiring the mobilization of all available air defense assets.

Nature and Sources of the Attack

The enemy strike was launched simultaneously from several directions. Iskander-M and S-400 ballistic missiles were fired from the territories of the Voronezh, Bryansk, and Kursk regions. Mass drone usage was carried out from the directions of Kursk, Orel, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, as well as from the occupied territories of Crimea (Gvardiyske) and the Donetsk region.

The adversary's arsenal included various types of drones: Shahed, Gerbera, and Italmas attack drones, as well as Parody decoy drones designed to overload air defense systems.

Air Defense Results

The country's defense was carried out by aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups. As of 08:00 AM, Ukrainian forces managed to shoot down or suppress 216 out of the 246 launched targets.

Specifically, the following were intercepted:

  • 4 ballistic missiles;
  • 212 enemy drones of various types.

However, not all targets were destroyed. According to preliminary data, impacts from two ballistic missiles and 26 attack drones were recorded in nine different locations. Additionally, debris from intercepted munitions was found in seven settlements. The fate of one more ballistic missile was being clarified at the time of the report.

Situation in Kyiv and Other Regions

Special attention during the attack was drawn to strikes on Kyiv and Poltava. Residents of these cities heard powerful explosions during the night hours. The attack was not limited to the night: in the morning of June 18, the enemy continued the assault using drones. As a result of the morning attack, explosions were recorded in at least three cities.

The Ukrainian Air Force warned that the airspace remains unsafe and urged citizens to strictly follow safety rules.

Context of Escalation

The current attack is a continuation of a series of strikes. On the night of June 17, Russia had already attacked Ukraine with 119 drones; while air defense repelled most targets, it was not without losses. Current events indicate the maintenance of high intensity of hostilities in the airspace.