Russia launches Iskander missiles and 51 drones in overnight attack on Ukraine
Illustrative photo: Russia struck Ukraine with Iskander missiles and 51 drones (GettyImages)
Overnight on December 20, Russian forces carried out another combined aerial attack on Ukraine, using ballistic missiles and dozens of strike drones, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
According to the military, from 7:00 p.m. on December 19, the enemy launched three Iskander-M ballistic missiles from the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea, as well as 51 strike UAVs, including Shahed, Gerbera, and other types of drones.
The drone launches came from Russian territory — from the directions of Orel, Kursk, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, and Shatalove — with approximately 30 of them being Shaheds.
The aerial attack was countered by Ukrainian aviation, surface-to-air missile units, electronic warfare units, drone units, and mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces.
As of 9:00 a.m., air defense systems had shot down or suppressed 31 enemy drones across the north, south, and east of the country.
At the same time, impacts from ballistic missiles and 20 strike drones were recorded at 15 locations. Information on the consequences of the attack is still being clarified.
Russia's attack on Odesa region ports on December 19
It is worth recalling that the previous day, Russia carried out a massive ballistic missile strike on a port infrastructure facility in Odesa district. The shelling caused cargo trucks to catch fire in the parking area. Initially, seven people were reported killed and 15 others injured, but as of this morning, the number of victims has risen.
"Eight lives were claimed by the enemy attack on Odesa region, and another twenty-seven people were wounded," the State Emergency Service reported.
It is also noted that due to numerous Russian terrorist attacks on energy infrastructure, a state-level emergency has been declared in the Odesa region.
