On the evening of March 3, Russian forces launched an extensive aerial assault on Ukraine, deploying 149 strike drones of various types, including Shahed, Gerbera, and Italmas. Ukrainian air defense systems successfully neutralized 129 of these drones.
As of 08:30 local time, the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that air defense units had shot down or suppressed 129 enemy drones across northern, southern, and eastern regions of the country. The attack involved strikes on 15 locations, with debris from downed drones observed at one site.
The drones were launched from several Russian cities, including Bryansk, Kursk, Millerovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk, as well as from the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea. Approximately 100 of the drones were identified as the Shahed type.
The assault was met with a coordinated response from Ukrainian aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups. As of 08:50, the attack was still ongoing, with multiple enemy drones remaining in Ukrainian airspace.
A recent drone attack by Russian forces on Ukraine saw the majority of the 149 deployed drones intercepted by Ukrainian air defenses. The ongoing assault highlights the persistent threat posed by aerial strikes in the conflict.