Russia hits Kyiv with one of the largest drone waves yet - 200 launched overnight
Photo: Head of the Communications Department of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Yurii Ihnat (mil.in.ua)
Russia launched about 200 drones and 9 ballistic missiles at Ukraine overnight on May 24. The enemy targeted the capital from different directions, says Yurii Ihnat, Head of the Communications Department of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in a comment to RBC-Ukraine.
According to Ihnat, during the nighttime attack on Ukraine, in the area of responsibility of the Center Air Command (which includes Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Cherkasy, Chernihiv, and parts of Poltava, Sumy, and Kirovohrad regions), more than 200 UAVs and 9 ballistic missiles were recorded. Almost all of them were headed directly toward Kyiv.
“They attacked the capital from different directions, changed their routes, and it’s becoming harder to suppress drones using electronic warfare systems, as the enemy continues to improve them. Additionally, the enemy is increasingly launching these UAVs from higher altitudes (2 kilometers and above), making them more difficult to neutralize,” he noted.
Today’s attack was countered by air defense missile units of the Air Force and Ground Forces, mobile fire groups, electronic warfare systems, army aviation helicopters, and fighter jets. In addition, the drone-based air defense of the Unmanned Systems Forces also operated during the attack. Ihnat emphasized that these forces are expanding their capabilities and are now involved in every attack.
“We need different means and methods to intercept UAVs. Even if today we see a decline in the effectiveness of mobile fire groups because the enemy has started launching UAVs from higher altitudes, we still can't write them off. The enemy can change its tactics at any moment and resume launching them closer to the ground, as they have done before. That’s why we must keep all systems ready, depending on how the Russians use their weapons, the circumstances, and weather conditions,” the Air Force representative added.
Massive Russian attack on Kyiv
Last night, Kyiv suffered one of the most powerful combined attacks from Russia. The enemy used both ballistic missiles and attack drones simultaneously.
According to the Air Force, the Russian army launched 14 Iskander-M/KN-23 missiles and 250 drones at Ukraine. Ukrainian air defenses shot down six missiles and 245 drones.
Debris from the destroyed aerial targets fell in six districts of Kyiv. The most severe damage occurred in the Solomianskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, and Obolon districts. Kyiv’s mayor reported 14 people injured, while the police reported 15 injuries.
More details on the aftermath of the overnight strike can be found in RBC-Ukraine's report.
