Shahed drones, ballistic and cruise missiles: Inside last overnight strike on Ukraine

Key questions:

• Drone attacks and initial explosions
• Launch of Kalibr missiles from the Black Sea targeting Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro
• In the morning, Russia launched ballistic and cruise missiles from strategic aviation
• First consequences of the Russian attack

Shahed drone strikes across Ukraine

Typically, during combined attacks, the Russian forces first launch drones across Ukraine. This time was no exception. The first drones were recorded in the Sumy region on August 29 at 05:48 p.m..

Subsequently, drones were detected in Dnipropetrovsk, Chernihiv, and Zaporizhzhia regions. The alarm signals gradually spread, and by the early hours of August 30, alerts were active in almost all regions.

The attack continued throughout the night. During this time, explosions were heard in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Lutsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, and even in the Lviv region.

In addition, monitoring channels reported overnight that Russia had deployed strategic bombers Tu-95MS and Tu-160 from the Olenya and Engels airbases. However, this information has not been officially confirmed.

Launch of Kalibr missiles from Novorossiysk toward Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro

Starting at 03:28 Kyiv time, the Ukrainian Air Forces detected the launch of Kalibr cruise missiles from Novorossiysk. Later, the military clarified that the missiles were heading toward Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia.

At the same time, local authorities reported a massive Russian attack. In particular, the head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, Ivan Fedorov, confirmed that at least one missile was flying toward the city.

Launch of ballistic and cruise missiles from aviation

On the night of June 30, the Ukrainian Air Forces did not confirm the takeoff of Russian strategic aviation - Tu-95MS and Tu-160 aircraft.

However, starting at 04:57 a.m. Kyiv time, cruise missiles re-entered Ukrainian airspace over the Sumy region. Since they came from the north, it was confirmed that they had been launched from aircraft.

These missiles were heading toward Dnipro and Pavlohrad, and some were tracked toward the western regions of Ukraine.

In addition, the military issued a warning about a ballistic threat. According to the latest data, a high-speed target was flying toward Dnipro/Pavlohrad.

First consequences of the attacks

There are not many detailed reports for each city yet. Currently, detailed information is available for Zaporizhzhia and the railway infrastructure in the Kyiv region. Explosions were also reported in Dnipro.

Zaporizhzhia

According to police data, between 01:46 and 04:05 a.m., the enemy attacked the center of Zaporizhzhia with 7 missiles and 6 drones. Hits occurred on infrastructure facilities, private residential areas, and near multi-story apartment buildings.

As a result of the attack, there were numerous fires, damage, and destruction, and the number of casualties continues to rise. According to the latest data from Fedorov, as of 06:33, there are already 16 wounded in the city, including two children. One person has died.

Updated at 07:15

Fedorov clarified that currently 22 people have been injured in Zaporizhzhia, and one person has died.

"Fourteen apartment buildings and more than forty private houses were damaged as a result of the night attack on Zaporizhzhia. They have been disconnected from electricity and gas supply," he wrote.

Dnipro

The head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration, Serhii Lysak, confirmed a massive Russian attack on the region early in the morning. According to him, there were strikes in Dnipro and Pavlohrad.

Local channels also reported that during the night, after the initial drone attack, power went out in the regional center. However, there is no official confirmation of this.

Kyiv region

In the morning, Ukrzaliznytsia reported that due to the night attack and damage to railway infrastructure in the Kyiv region, several trains are delayed and will arrive at Kyiv station with delays of at least 2 hours.

Ukrzaliznytsia added that railway workers have begun restoring the infrastructure and are making every effort to return to the regular schedule as soon as possible.

All-clear signal

Starting at 06:06 a.m., the all-clear was announced in several regions. The missile threat has passed, but the risk of drone attacks remains. Notably, after the all-clear in Kyiv, the air raid siren was soon activated again.

Sources: Telegram channels of the Ukrainian Air Forces, the head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration Ivan Fedorov, the head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration Serhii Lysak, Ukrzaliznytsia, and other official sources.

Massive Russian attack on Ukraine

Russia typically carries out large-scale attacks on Ukraine every few weeks. However, this time the enemy launched a combined attack much earlier, since the previous strike using drones, ballistic missiles, and aviation took place on the night of July 28.

Back then, Kyiv was the primary target. The attack caused fires and damage throughout the capital, and by yesterday evening, the death toll had risen to 25.

For more details on the consequences of that attack, read the article by RBC-Ukraine.