In the early hours of March 1, Ukraine faced a significant aerial assault from Russia, involving 123 strike drones launched from multiple directions. Ukrainian air defense forces successfully intercepted most of these unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
According to military sources, the attack occurred between 6:00 PM on February 28 and the morning of March 1, with drones deployed from regions including Kursk, Milleryovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, and Hvardiyiske in the temporarily occupied Crimea. Approximately 70 of the drones were identified as Shahed models.
The Ukrainian defense employed a combination of aviation, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups to counter the assault. This multi-faceted approach proved effective in mitigating the threat posed by the incoming drones.
As of 8:30 AM, preliminary reports indicated that Ukrainian air defense had successfully shot down or suppressed around 110 enemy drones, including Shahed, Gerbera, and Italmas models, across northern, southern, and eastern regions of the country.
Despite these successes, 13 drones managed to strike seven locations, with debris from intercepted drones landing in four different areas. The situation underscores the ongoing challenges Ukraine faces in maintaining its airspace security amidst persistent drone attacks from Russia.
Ukraine's air defenses effectively countered a large-scale drone attack from Russia, intercepting the majority of the drones launched. However, some drones still managed to reach their targets, highlighting the ongoing threat to Ukrainian airspace.