In the early hours of February 22, Russian forces launched a significant aerial assault on Ukraine, deploying 297 strike drones, including types such as Shahed, Gerbera, and Italmas, alongside 50 air and ground-launched missiles. Ukrainian air defense successfully neutralized 274 drones and 33 missiles during the operation, according to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The attack was met with a coordinated defense involving aviation, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups from Ukraine’s defense forces. Key areas targeted included Kyiv, Odesa, Kirovohrad, and Poltava.
Details of the Attack
- 4 anti-ship missiles of the Zircon type;
- 22 ballistic missiles from the Iskander-M/S-400 systems;
- 18 cruise missiles of the Kh-101 type;
- 2 cruise missiles from the Iskander-K;
- 4 guided aviation missiles of the Kh-59/69 type;
- 297 strike drones and various other unmanned aerial vehicles.
As of 10:00 AM, preliminary reports indicated that Ukrainian air defense had intercepted or suppressed a total of 307 targets, including:
- 2 anti-ship Zircon missiles;
- 8 ballistic missiles from the Iskander-M/S-400;
- 17 Kh-101 cruise missiles;
- 2 Iskander-K cruise missiles;
- 4 Kh-59/69 guided aviation missiles;
- 274 drones of various types.
The Ukrainian Air Force noted that the attack resulted in 14 missile strikes and 23 drone impacts across 14 locations, with debris from intercepted drones falling in five areas. Further information regarding the exact number of missiles involved is still being clarified, as the aerial assault continues with several drones remaining in Ukrainian airspace.
Casualties from the nighttime attack included a woman and a child in the suburbs of Kyiv, with at least one fatality and five injuries reported in the Kyiv region. Additionally, two individuals were injured in Dnipropetrovsk, energy facilities were damaged in Odesa, power lines were impacted in Mykolaiv, and private properties sustained damage in Poltava due to falling drone debris.
A large-scale Russian aerial attack on Ukraine on February 22 resulted in significant interceptions by Ukrainian air defense. The assault caused casualties and damage across multiple regions, highlighting ongoing tensions in the conflict.