Russia launches 135 drones at Ukraine: Air defense's work reported
Illustrative image (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Russia has launched 135 drones at Ukraine. Most of the targets were shot down by air defense, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
The Russians launched drones into Ukraine from Kursk, Orel, and Prymorsko-Akhtarsk. As of 8:30 a.m. Kyiv time, 135 drones were launched.
Russian attack was repelled by Ukrainian aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups. As a result of the air battle, 80 enemy drones were shot down.
The air defense system operated in Odesa, Sumy, Cherkasy, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Kirovohrad, Chernihiv, Poltava, Khmelnytskyi, Rivne, Kharkiv, Kherson, Lutsk, and Vinnytsia regions.
Another 44 Russian drones were lost, two flew to Belarus, and up to 10 Russian drones are in the airspace of central Ukraine. Combat operations are ongoing.
Russia's night attack
Russia began its attack on the evening of October 17. The movement of Russian drones was recorded in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Poltava, Sumy, Zhytomyr, Cherkasy, Rivne, Lutsk, Kirovohrad, Kherson, Odesa, and Dnipro regions.
In Kyiv, air defense systems were operating at night and explosions were heard. The Kyiv City Military Administration said it was one of the most massive Russian drone attacks on civilians and infrastructure.
There were no direct strikes in Kyiv, no casualties, and no damage.
