On the night of September 4, starting from the evening of September 3, the Russian Armed Forces delivered a combined strike on Ukraine, employing a Kh-31P guided air-to-surface missile launched from the waters of the Black Sea and 121 strike unmanned aerial vehicles. This was reported by the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as cited by RBC-Ukraine. According to preliminary data, air defense forces neutralized most of the enemy targets, however, impacts and consequences were recorded in several regions of the country.
Nature of the Attack and Directions of Strikes
According to Air Force data, enemy drones attacked along several directions: Millerovo, Orel, Kursk, occupied Donetsk, and Hvardiiske in occupied Crimea. The use of the Kh-31P missile from the maritime area indicates the adversary's attempt to bypass land-based air defense lines and strike from a hard-to-reach direction. In total, the attack involved aircraft of the Shahed, "Gerbera," S8000 "Banderol" types and other strike drone modifications.
How Air Defense Performed
Air defense, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare and unmanned systems units, as well as mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces were involved in repelling the aerial attack. According to preliminary data as of 09:30, air defense shot down and suppressed 103 enemy UAVs. Targets were neutralized in the north, south, east, and center of the country, indicating the distribution of defense efforts across the entire territory. At the same time, impacts of aerial attack means were recorded at 15 locations, and the fall of debris from shot-down drones — at another six locations.
Consequences for Regions and Casualties
As a result of the attack, several regions were affected. Near Kyiv, in Sofiivska Borshchahivka, warehouse facilities caught fire — according to Ukrainian authorities, the adversary continues to deliberately strike civilian logistics. On the morning of September 4, Odesa came under attack, where, according to available information, one person was killed and several were injured. The number of injured as a result of attacks on Kyiv also continued to rise throughout the morning, with final figures being clarified at the time of preparation of the material.
Contradictory Data
A number of figures in reports on the attack are of a preliminary nature and may be revised. The Air Force indicates 121 strike drones, while some Ukrainian media outlets phrase the same figure as "more than 120 drones," which essentially matches but reflects different accuracy of counting. The number of targets shot down — 103 — is given as preliminary as of 09:30 and will likely be updated as air defense operations conclude and debris is counted. The number of casualties in Kyiv and Odesa at the time of publication was also not final and continued to rise throughout the morning. Thus, the key facts of the attack and air defense performance are confirmed, while exact figures of losses and targets shot down remain dynamic.
