In the early hours of March 8, Russian forces targeted Ukraine with two Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 117 drones from multiple directions. Ukrainian air defense successfully intercepted 98 of the incoming unmanned aerial vehicles.
According to military reports, the attacks occurred between 7:00 PM on March 7 and the morning of March 8. The Iskander-M missiles were launched from the Rostov and Voronezh regions, while the drones included various models such as Shahed, Gerbera, and Italmas.
The drones approached Ukraine from six different locations: Bryansk, Kursk, Orel, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Millerovo in Russia, and Hvardiyiske in occupied Crimea.
Approximately 70 of the drones were identified as Shahed models. Ukrainian defense forces employed a combination of aviation, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups to counter the assault.
As of 9:00 AM, preliminary reports indicated that Ukrainian air defense had downed or suppressed 98 enemy drones, including Shahed and Gerbera types, across northern, southern, and eastern regions of the country.
Despite these defensive efforts, two ballistic missiles and 19 drones struck 11 locations in Ukraine.
In a related incident, on the night of March 7, Russian troops launched 29 missiles, primarily ballistic, along with 480 drones. Major cities such as Kyiv, Dnipro, and Kharkiv faced significant attacks, with other regions like Zhytomyr and Vinnytsia also affected.
One notable incident involved a ballistic missile hitting a residential building in Kharkiv, resulting in a fire and casualties, including children.
Further details regarding the combined assault by Russian forces can be found in reports from local news outlets.
Russia conducted a significant missile and drone attack on Ukraine, with Ukrainian defense forces intercepting a majority of the threats. Despite these efforts, some strikes resulted in damage and casualties, particularly in urban areas.