Ballistics, drones and cruise missiles - Russia's massive strike on Ukraine aftermath
Photo: Russian forces launch another massive attack on Ukraine (Getty Images)
In the early hours of Saturday, September 20, Russia once again carried out a combined strike on Ukraine. Loud explosions were heard and continue to be reported in several cities.
RBC-Ukraine outlines everything known so far about the overnight drone attack.
Key questions
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Russian forces launched Shahed drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles;
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Dnipro, Pavlohrad, and Mykolaiv came under attack.
Drones
According to the Air Force, Russia attempted to strike Ukraine with drones on September 20. The heaviest activity began at 18:09, when drones were detected over Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Their numbers increased steadily in the skies above Ukraine.
Ballistics
During the night, amid the drone assault, explosions were reported in Dnipro, Pavlohrad, and Mykolaiv. At 04:30 AM Kyiv time, warnings of ballistic missile threats were issued. Shortly afterward, fresh explosions rocked Pavlohrad and Mykolaiv, with the military confirming that “high-speed targets” were moving toward the cities.
So far, no official reports on the consequences have been released, but preliminary information indicates there were no casualties in Mykolaiv.
Cruise missiles
Overnight, monitoring channels reported Russian strategic aviation taking off, including Tu-95MS and Tu-160 bombers from Olenya and Engels airfields.
By 05:34 AM Kyiv time, the first cruise missiles had entered Ukrainian airspace, crossing through the Sumy region. Their numbers later increased, with Dnipro confirmed to have come under attack.
Atack continues
As of 06:00 AM Kyiv time, the assault was ongoing. Drones were headed toward Kyiv, while cruise missiles were targeting Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia. Local channels also reported explosions in Dnipro.
Due to the ongoing strikes, a nationwide air alert remains in effect.
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A group of cruise missiles is heading toward western Ukraine.
"Cruise missiles spotted in eastern Khmelnytskyi region, moving toward Kamianets-Podilskyi," Ukraine’s Air Force reported.
Sources: the Air Force and information provided by local authorities.
