Drones, Kinzhal missiles and Kalibr cruise rockets - Combined attack on Ukraine main points
Illustrative photo: air defense forces of Ukraine intercepting aerial targets (Getty Images)
Overnight on November 8, Russian forces launched a massive strike across Ukraine, using drones, Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, and Kalibr cruise missiles, according to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
During the one-hour-long attack, seven MiG-31K aircraft, carriers of Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, were launched. These missiles have a long range and travel at extremely high speeds.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Kinzhal launches were detected heading toward Kyiv and Poltava regions, including the city of Kremenchuk.
At 00:10 AM Kyiv time, reports indicated that all MiG-31Ks had landed at their airfields, while the Russian Navy’s missile carrier returned to its base port.
Amid the combined attack, explosions were reported in the Kharkiv region and the city of Dnipro. By 00:15 AM Kyiv time, air raid alerts began to be lifted across Ukraine, including in Kyiv.
Kinzhal missile attacks on Ukraine
Russian forces used Kinzhal missiles to strike Ukraine overnight on November 3. In total, three Kinzhal missiles were launched, one of which was successfully intercepted by Ukrainian air defense. The only systems in Ukraine capable of intercepting Kinzhals are the US-made Patriot systems.
On November 6, a nationwide air raid alert was declared as Russian MiG-31K fighters took off. In Ukraine, large-scale alerts are issued every time a MiG-31K is airborne, since the aircraft can carry a Kinzhal hypersonic missile, and its takeoff is tracked by the Air Force as a potential signal of a missile strike.
