In the early hours of February 18, Russia executed a significant military operation against Ukraine, deploying a ballistic missile and numerous drones. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that a total of 126 attack drones, including models such as Shahed, Gerbera, and Italmas, were involved in the assault, alongside one Iskander-M ballistic missile.
The missile was launched from the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea, while the drones were deployed from various locations including Bryansk, Kursk, and other regions within Russia. The Ukrainian military indicated that approximately 80 of the drones were of the Shahed type.
By 8:30 AM, Ukrainian air defense forces, which include aviation units, missile defense systems, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups, successfully intercepted or neutralized around 100 of the incoming drones across northern, southern, and eastern Ukraine.
Despite these defensive efforts, the attack resulted in the missile and 23 drones striking 14 different locations, with debris reported to have fallen in three areas. The Ukrainian Air Force has urged citizens to adhere to safety protocols as hostile drones continue to be detected in the airspace.
“The attack is ongoing, and several enemy drones remain in the airspace. Please follow safety rules,” the Air Force stated.
On February 18, Russia launched a coordinated missile and drone attack on Ukraine, resulting in significant defensive responses from Ukrainian forces. Despite the interception of many drones, some strikes were successful, highlighting ongoing tensions in the region.