In a significant military escalation, Russian forces targeted Ukraine with a barrage of attacks on the night of June 18, beginning at 6 PM on June 17. The assault involved seven Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 239 drones of various types, according to reports from the Ukrainian Air Force.
The missiles were reportedly launched from the Voronezh, Bryansk, and Kursk regions of Russia. Drones, including the Shahed series, as well as Gerbera, Italmas, and imitation drones like Parody, were deployed from areas in Kursk, Oryol, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, and the temporarily occupied regions of Crimea and Donetsk.
Ukrainian defense forces, utilizing aviation, anti-aircraft missile systems, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups, successfully intercepted a considerable number of these threats. As of 8 AM, preliminary data indicated that 216 targets had been neutralized, which included four ballistic missiles and 212 drones.
Despite the defensive efforts, there were confirmed impacts from two ballistic missiles and 26 drones across nine locations, with debris reported in seven areas. Further details regarding one additional ballistic missile are still being verified.
The recent wave of attacks by Russian forces on Ukraine involved a combination of ballistic missiles and drones, highlighting the ongoing conflict's intensity. Ukrainian defense systems managed to intercept a significant number of these threats, but some did breach defenses, causing damage in multiple locations.