Ballistic missiles and drones target Ukraine: How air defense fought off Russia's latest assault
Photo: Ukraine's air defenses intercept Russian aerial targets (Getty Images)
Russian forces attacked Ukraine overnight with a ballistic missile and over a hundred drones. The air defense forces successfully intercepted enemy targets.
"On the night of March 13, the enemy launched an Iskander-M ballistic missile from Russia's Rostov region, along with 126 strike drones of the Shahed, Gerbera, and Italmas types, as well as other unmanned aerial vehicles from the directions of Bryansk, Oryol, Kursk, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk (Russia), and Hvardiiske in the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea," the Air Force reported.
Around 80 of the Russian drones were Shahed models. The attack was repelled by aviation units, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare units, drone countermeasures, and mobile fire groups.
As of 8:00 a.m. Kyiv time, preliminary reports indicate that air defenses had shot down or suppressed 117 enemy drones.
The missile strike and drone attacks still caused hits at seven locations, including the ballistic missile and eight strike drones, with downed UAVs recorded at five sites.
"The attack is ongoing, with several enemy drones still in Ukrainian airspace. Please follow safety rules," the Air Force added.
Russian strikes on Ukraine
On the night of March 12, a 15-year-old girl was killed in the Chernihiv region after a Russian drone fell, and her parents were injured.
Additionally, on March 11, Russia struck Zaporizhzhia with KAB-guided bombs, injuring 10 people, including two children.
Russian forces also attacked a civilian bus in Kherson's Dniprovskyi district with a drone, leaving 20 injured, including a teenager.
