The night of June 24 became another test for the Ukrainian air defense system. Russian forces launched a large-scale attack, deploying 101 strike drones. Despite the impressive number of attacking targets, Ukrainian defenders managed to shoot down the overwhelming majority of enemy machines, although incidents of hits were still recorded.

Scale and Vectors of the Attack

According to data published by RBC-Ukraine citing the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the enemy's arsenal was diverse. The raid involved not only classic kamikaze drones of the Shahed type, but also more modern jet models, as well as "Gerbera" and "Italmas" drones. In addition, "Parody" type decoy drones were used to disorient air defense systems.

The attack was carried out simultaneously along several strategic directions, covering the north, south, and east of the country. The main vectors of the strike passed through border regions:

  • Orel, Kursk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk (RF);
  • ATO — Donetsk;
  • Guardiansky — ATO AR Crimea.

Air Defense Effectiveness

Repelling the air invasion was the result of coordinated actions of various branches of the armed forces. Aviation took to the sky, anti-aircraft missile systems operated, and electronic warfare (EW) units and mobile fire groups attempted to intercept targets at different stages of flight.

Preliminary data, current as of 08:30 in the morning, indicates that Ukrainian air defense shot down or suppressed 95 enemy drones. This means that the interception efficiency exceeded 90% of the total number of launched drones.

Consequences of the Attack

Despite the high effectiveness of the defense, it was impossible to completely avoid losses. Six direct hits by strike drones were recorded at 5 different locations. In addition, debris from shot-down drones fell on another 6 territories. The Air Force warned that the attack is ongoing and enemy targets are still in the airspace, urging citizens to follow safety rules.

Context of Escalation

This attack was a continuation of a series of intensive strikes. Just two days earlier, on the night of June 22-23, Russia attacked Ukraine with 135 strike drones. Then, air defense also managed to shoot down most targets, but 13 drones still reached their objects. In particular, during that attack, residents of the Zaporizhzhia region suffered: a private house, an auto service, and a gas station were damaged.