In the early hours of March 13, Russian military forces executed a significant assault on Ukraine, deploying a ballistic missile and over a hundred drones. Ukrainian air defense units successfully intercepted many of these threats.
The attack involved the launch of an Iskander-M ballistic missile from the Rostov region of Russia, alongside 126 strike drones, including various models such as Shahed, Gerbera, and Italmas. These drones were reportedly launched from multiple locations, including Bryansk, Orel, Kursk, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, approximately 80 of the drones involved in the attack were identified as Shahed models. The air defense response included aviation units, missile defense systems, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups.
As of 8:00 AM local time, preliminary reports indicated that Ukrainian air defense forces had either shot down or neutralized 117 enemy drones. Additionally, there were confirmed strikes from the ballistic missile and eight drones at seven different locations, with debris from the intercepted drones falling at five sites.
The Ukrainian Air Force warned that the attack was ongoing, stating, “Several enemy drones remain in the airspace. Please adhere to safety protocols.” This incident underscores the continued volatility in the region and the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
On March 13, Russian forces launched a coordinated attack on Ukraine using a ballistic missile and over 126 drones. Ukrainian air defense successfully intercepted a significant number of these threats, highlighting the ongoing tensions in the region.