In the early hours of March 14, Russian forces launched a significant aerial assault on Ukraine, deploying 430 Shahed-type drones along with various other unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and 68 missiles from both land and sea platforms. Ukrainian air defense systems successfully neutralized 402 drones and 58 missiles during the engagement, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
The primary target of the attack was the Kyiv region, where Ukrainian military assets, including aviation, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare divisions, and mobile fire groups, worked in concert to repel the assault.
The types of munitions used in the attack included:
- 2 anti-ship missiles, designated as Zircon;
- 13 ballistic missiles, classified as Iskander-M/S-400;
- 25 cruise missiles, identified as Kalibr;
- 24 Kh-101 cruise missiles;
- 4 guided aviation missiles, labeled Kh-59/69;
- 430 drones of various types.
As of 9:00 AM local time, preliminary reports indicated that Ukrainian air defenses had intercepted or suppressed a total of 460 targets, comprising 58 missiles and 402 drones. This included:
- 1 Zircon anti-ship missile;
- 7 Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missiles;
- 25 Kalibr cruise missiles;
- 24 Kh-101 cruise missiles;
- 1 Kh-59/69 guided aviation missile;
- 402 drones of various types.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that the attack resulted in the impact of 6 missiles and 28 drones across 11 locations, with debris falling in seven areas. Information regarding an additional 4 missiles is still being verified. The aerial assault appears to be ongoing, with several drones remaining active in Ukrainian airspace.
A coordinated Russian aerial attack on Ukraine involved numerous drones and missiles, with Ukrainian defenses intercepting the majority of the threats. The assault primarily targeted the Kyiv region, resulting in multiple impacts and ongoing threats in the airspace.