Over 700 aerial targets in two waves: How air defense responds to Russia’s attack
Illustrative photo: Russia launched 703 aerial targets at Ukraine (Getty Images)
Over the past 24 hours, Russian occupying forces launched 703 aerial targets at Ukraine, including 44 missiles and 659 drones of various types. Hits were recorded from 12 missiles and 20 drones, according to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
As noted, the attack lasted from 07:00 AM on April 15 to 07:00 AM Kyiv time on April 16. During this time, Russian forces carried out two waves of combined strikes using ground- and air-launched missiles, as well as attack drones.
What the enemy used in the attack
In total, radio-technical troops detected and tracked 703 aerial targets, including:
- 19 Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missiles;
- 20 Kh-101 cruise missiles;
- 5 Iskander-K cruise missiles;
- 659 drones of the Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas, and other types.
The air attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile forces, electronic warfare units, unmanned systems, and mobile fire groups of Ukraine’s Defense Forces.
How air defense performed
According to preliminary data as of 07:30 AM, air defense units shot down or suppressed 667 enemy targets, including:
- 19 Kh-101 cruise missiles;
- 8 Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missiles;
- 4 Iskander-K cruise missiles;
- 636 UAVs of the Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas, and other types.
"It was recorded that 12 missiles and 20 strike UAVs hit 26 locations, and debris from downed targets fell at 25 locations," the report said.
Information regarding one cruise missile is still being clarified.
The Air Force also added that the attack is ongoing, with several enemy UAVs still in the air.
Latest attack on Ukraine
For the second day in a row, Russia has carried out massive combined strikes on Ukraine, using ballistic and cruise missiles as well as attack Shahed drones.
Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Odesa were all targeted, with casualties, injuries, and destruction reported.
In the capital, 4 people were killed as a result of the strikes, including a child. Another 54 people were injured.
In Kharkiv, several fires broke out due to the attacks, and reports of injuries have also been received.
In Dnipro, a five-story residential building was damaged, fires broke out, and there are both dead and wounded.
Odesa was also under attack. The Russian occupation army first struck the city with drones and then with ballistic missiles. According to local authorities, 7 people were killed, and 11 others were injured.
More details on the consequences of the enemy attack are available in the RBC-Ukraine report.
