In the early hours of March 16, Ukrainian forces reported a significant drone attack involving over 200 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched from multiple locations in Russia and occupied Crimea. The assault began around 6:00 PM on March 15 and continued into the morning.
According to military sources, the drones included various models such as the Shahed, Gerbera, and Italmas. The launches originated from several regions, including Oryol, Kursk, Bryansk, Millerovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, as well as from Gvardeyskoye in temporarily occupied Crimea.
The Ukrainian Air Force highlighted that this attack was notable for its unusual timing, particularly the morning strike on Kyiv Oblast. The primary targets of the assault were reported to be the Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, and Kyiv regions.
Ukrainian air defense forces employed a range of countermeasures:
- aviation units;
- anti-aircraft missile troops;
- electronic warfare units;
- drone system units;
- mobile fire groups from Ukraine’s defense forces.
By 11:00 AM, Ukrainian air defense had successfully intercepted or suppressed 194 enemy drones. The attack resulted in 16 strikes from the UAVs across 10 locations, with debris from shot-down drones landing in an additional 11 areas.
The Ukrainian Air Force warned that the assault was ongoing, with several enemy drones still present in the airspace, urging citizens to adhere to safety protocols.
On March 16, Ukraine experienced a large-scale drone attack involving over 200 UAVs, primarily targeting Kyiv and surrounding regions. Ukrainian air defense forces effectively intercepted a significant number of these drones, though the situation remained active as the attack continued.