In the early hours of February 24, Russian forces launched a significant aerial assault on Ukraine, employing an Iskander-M ballistic missile along with 133 strike drones, primarily of the Shahed type. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that approximately 90 of these drones were identified as Shaheds.
As of 8:30 AM, preliminary data indicated that Ukrainian air defense systems successfully intercepted and neutralized 111 enemy drones, including Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas, and various other types across northern, southern, and eastern regions of the country.
The assault resulted in the impact of a missile and 19 strike drones at 16 different locations, with debris from downed drones reported at one site. The defense was coordinated through a combination of aviation, anti-aircraft missile forces, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups from Ukraine’s defense forces.
Despite the ongoing attack, several enemy drones remained active in Ukrainian airspace, indicating that the threat was not fully mitigated.
The Ukrainian air defense successfully intercepted a majority of the drones launched in a recent Russian assault, highlighting ongoing tensions in the region. Despite these efforts, some drones continue to pose a threat to Ukrainian airspace.