In the early hours of March 5, Russian forces initiated a drone attack on Ukraine, deploying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from five different directions. Approximately 100 of these drones were identified as Shahed kamikaze drones.
The assault commenced around 6:30 PM on March 4, with Russian military sources reporting the use of 155 strike drones of various types, including:
- Shahed;
- Gerbera;
- Italmas;
- other types of drones.
Launches were executed from multiple locations, including Bryansk, Kursk, Millerovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, as well as from Gvardeyskoye and Chauda in the temporarily occupied Crimea.
Ukrainian air defense forces employed a range of countermeasures, utilizing:
- aviation units;
- anti-aircraft missile troops;
- electronic warfare units;
- drone systems;
- mobile fire groups from Ukraine’s defense forces.
As of 8:00 AM, preliminary reports indicated that Ukrainian air defense had intercepted or suppressed 136 enemy drones. However, 18 strike drones successfully hit eight locations, with debris from downed UAVs landing in three additional areas.
The Ukrainian Air Force issued a warning, stating, “The attack is ongoing, and several enemy drones remain in the airspace. Please adhere to safety protocols.”
A significant drone attack by Russian forces on Ukraine involved the deployment of over 150 UAVs, with substantial interception efforts by Ukrainian air defense. Despite these efforts, several drones managed to strike various locations, highlighting ongoing security challenges.