Russia launches massive strike on Ukraine using aerial bombs, Shahed drones, and cruise missiles
Air raid alerts blare across Ukraine amid Russia’s massive overnight attack (Photo: Getty Images)
Russians launched another massive overnight strike on Ukraine early Sunday, October 5. Powerful explosions were reported in several cities, and sadly, there are reports of damage and casualties.
RBC-Ukraine breaks down everything known so far about the overnight attack.
Key points:
- Overnight, Russia attacked using Shahed drones and guided aerial bombs (KABs); by morning, Kalibr cruise missiles and long-range strategic aviation joined the assault.
- At least Kyiv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, and Lviv came under attack.
- Most of the drones were heading toward western Ukraine.
Weapons used by Russia
Drones
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia began launching attack drones over Ukraine at around 9:20 p.m. Kyiv time on Saturday, October 4. As the night went on, the number of drones steadily increased, with reports later confirming entire groups of UAVs moving across the country.
By 4:50 a.m. Kyiv time, enemy drones were still being detected. Explosions from drone attacks were reported in Lviv, Kyiv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, and Khmelnytskyi region.
At 4:02 a.m. Kyiv time, the Air Force confirmed that dozens of drones were active in Ukrainian airspace, most heading toward the country’s western regions.
Guided aerial bombs (KABs)
The city of Zaporizhzhia came under attack from guided aerial bombs shortly after 2 a.m. The strike occurred simultaneously with a drone assault. According to regional governor Ivan Fedorov, Russian forces carried out at least 10 hits on the city.
Cruise missiles
Overnight, monitoring channels reported that Russia launched Tu-95MS and Tu-160 strategic bombers, while also deploying Kalibr cruise missile carriers into the Black Sea.
Later, the Ukrainian Air Force confirmed that several Tu-95 bombers were airborne and that Russian troops had launched Kalibr missiles. These missiles were already flying over Ukrainian territory, heading westward. Probable missile launches from the Tu-95 bombers were also detected.
First consequences of the massive attack
As of 5:00 a.m. Kyiv time, reports have confirmed the aftermath of the overnight strikes on Zaporizhzhia.
Zaporizhzhia. The city came under a combined attack overnight. Enemy strikes hit residential buildings, igniting fires and causing blazes at a local industrial facility. Parts of the city are currently experiencing power and water outages. At least six people have been injured, and one person has been killed as a result of the Russian attack.
The report is based on data from the Ukrainian Air Force and local authorities.
