Russia launches drone attack from seven directions, dozens of strikes reported
Photo: Ukrainian air defenses shot down 298 enemy drones (Getty Images)
Russian forces launched 339 drones of various types at Ukraine overnight on April 1, including about 200 Shahed drones. Hits by 20 attack drones were recorded, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
According to the military, the attack began as early as 6:00 p.m. on March 31.
The enemy used Shahed, Gerbera, and Italmas strike UAVs, as well as other types of drones. Around 200 of them were Shaheds.
Launches were carried out from seven directions — Bryansk, Kursk, Oryol, Millerovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk (Russia), as well as from Hvardiiske in temporarily occupied Crimea and from occupied Donetsk.
The air assault was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile forces, electronic warfare units, drone units, and mobile fire groups of Ukraine’s Defense Forces.
According to preliminary data as of 08:00, air defenses shot down or suppressed 298 enemy UAVs across the north, south, east, west, and central regions of the country.
At the same time, hits by 20 attack drones were recorded at 11 locations, while debris from downed UAVs fell in five additional areas.
“The attack is ongoing, with around 20 enemy UAVs still in the airspace. Follow safety rules!” the Air Force said.
Drones attacked from seven directions, dozens of hits: what is known about Russia’s strike
Consequences of the April 1 attack
Overnight and in the morning, Russian forces carried out another massive drone attack on Ukraine. Explosions were reported in Sumy, Kryvyi Rih, Mykolaiv, Khmelnytskyi, and several other cities.
In particular, loud explosions were heard in Lutsk in the morning. Fires broke out in the city, and heavy smoke was recorded in the air.
Local authorities urged residents to keep windows tightly closed to avoid exposure to harmful substances.
It was reported that in Lutsk, drones hit a Nova Poshta warehouse as well as a food storage facility belonging to a retail chain.
In Khmelnytskyi, a fire also broke out after a drone strike, with a промышленный объект damaged, according to regional authorities.
Rescue services released footage showing efforts to extinguish the fires at the impact sites.
Russian forces also attacked Nikopol in the Dnipropetrovsk region with a strike drone. As a result of the attack, 11 people were injured.
