Russian forces launched a series of nighttime attacks on Ukraine using Iskander missiles and various types of drones. Ukrainian air defense successfully intercepted most of the hostile targets, according to military sources.
On the night of March 9, the adversary targeted Ukraine with two Iskander-M ballistic missiles from the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea, in addition to deploying 197 strike drones, including Shahed, Gerbera, and Italmas models, from six different directions. Approximately 120 of these drones were identified as Shahed variants, as reported by the Ukrainian Air Force.
The air assault was countered by a combination of aviation, anti-aircraft missile forces, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups from Ukraine’s defense forces.
Preliminary reports indicate that by morning, Ukrainian air defense had successfully shot down or suppressed 161 enemy drones of various types, including Shahed, Gerbera, and Italmas, across northern, southern, and eastern regions of the country.
However, two missiles and 36 strike drones reportedly hit their targets, with debris from the downed hostile objects landing in one location.
The Ukrainian Air Force noted that the attack was ongoing, with several enemy drones still present in the airspace, urging the public to adhere to safety protocols.
Ukrainian air defenses effectively intercepted the majority of Russian missile and drone attacks during a nighttime assault. Despite these efforts, some hostile projectiles managed to strike targets within Ukraine.