In the early hours of March 13, Russia conducted a significant military assault on Ukraine, utilizing an Iskander-M ballistic missile and deploying 126 strike drones, including Shahed models. Ukrainian Air Force officials reported that 117 of these drones were intercepted.
The drones were launched from various locations, including Bryansk, Oryol, Kursk, Milleryovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, as well as from the Crimean Peninsula. Approximately 80 of the drones were identified as Shahed models.
The Ukrainian defense forces employed a range of countermeasures, including aviation, surface-to-air missile systems, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups to repel the attack.
According to preliminary reports, as of 08:00, the air defense systems had successfully shot down or suppressed 117 enemy drones. The missile strike resulted in impacts at seven different locations, with debris from the intercepted drones landing in five areas.
The Ukrainian Air Force indicated that the assault was ongoing, with several Russian drones still active in the airspace.
On March 13, Russia launched a coordinated attack on Ukraine involving ballistic missiles and drones. Ukrainian defense forces successfully intercepted a majority of the drones, although some impacts were recorded across multiple locations.