In the early hours of March 28, Russia executed a significant drone attack on Ukraine, deploying 273 strike drones from five different directions. Ukrainian air defense forces successfully intercepted the majority of these hostile drones.
According to military sources, the assault began at 6:00 PM on March 27, with the enemy utilizing Shahed drones, as well as models named Gerbera and Italmas, among others. The drones were launched from regions including Orel, Kursk, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, and Gvardeyskoye in the temporarily occupied Crimea. Approximately 180 of the drones were identified as Shahed models.
The primary target of this aerial assault was the Odesa region.
Ukrainian defense forces employed aviation, anti-aircraft missile systems, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups to counter the attack. By 7:30 AM, preliminary reports indicated that 252 enemy drones had been shot down or suppressed by air defense.
Despite these efforts, 21 strike drones managed to hit 18 locations, and debris from the intercepted drones fell in nine areas.
Following the initial wave, further drone strikes were reported against Odesa and other northern and eastern regions after 7:00 AM, with details of the subsequent engagements still being clarified.
In Odesa, the nighttime assault targeted civilian infrastructure, resulting in casualties, including a child. Over 60 strike drones were launched at the city.
In the Prymorsky district, a drone struck the roof of a maternity hospital, although staff and patients had already moved to shelters, preventing more severe outcomes.
The attack also caused partial destruction of the ceiling between the fourth and fifth floors of a residential building, while shockwaves shattered windows in various homes across the area, leading to additional damage.
Moreover, fires broke out in residential properties in the private sector as a result of the strikes.
A large-scale drone attack by Russia on March 28 targeted Ukraine, particularly Odesa, resulting in significant damage and casualties. Ukrainian defenses managed to intercept most of the drones, but some caused destruction to civilian infrastructure.