In the early hours of April 1, Russian forces launched a significant drone attack against Ukraine, deploying a total of 339 drones, including approximately 200 Shahed models. Initial reports indicate that 20 of these strike drones successfully hit various targets across the country.
The assault commenced at around 6:00 PM on March 31, utilizing a variety of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) such as Shahed, Gerbera, and Italmas. The drones were launched from seven different locations, including Bryansk, Kursk, Oryol, Millerovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, as well as from the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea and occupied Donetsk.
Ukrainian defense forces responded with a multi-faceted defense strategy, employing aviation, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups. By 8:00 AM, preliminary data indicated that Ukrainian air defense systems had intercepted or suppressed 298 enemy drones across various regions of the country.
Despite the defensive efforts, 20 strike drones managed to reach their targets, impacting 11 locations. Additionally, debris from downed drones fell in five other areas, raising concerns about safety and damage.
The Ukrainian Air Force issued a warning, stating, “The attack is ongoing, with approximately 20 enemy drones still in the air. Please adhere to safety regulations!”
Following the drone strikes, explosions were reported in several cities, including Sumy, Kryvyi Rih, Mykolaiv, and Khmelnytskyi. In Lutsk, significant explosions led to fires and considerable smoke in the area.
Local authorities urged residents to close their windows tightly to prevent harmful substances from entering their homes. Reports confirmed that a drone struck a Nova Poshta warehouse and a food storage facility belonging to a retail chain in Lutsk.
In Khmelnytskyi, a drone attack also resulted in a fire, damaging an industrial facility. Emergency services released footage of their firefighting efforts at the site of the attack.
Additionally, the city of Nikopol in the Dnipropetrovsk region was targeted by a strike drone, resulting in injuries to 11 individuals.
A large-scale drone attack by Russian forces on April 1 resulted in significant damage across Ukraine, with hundreds of drones launched and multiple cities affected. Ukrainian air defenses reported intercepting the majority of the drones, but some managed to hit key locations, causing injuries and fires.