Ukraine downs more than 500 Russian targets during overnight attack
How air defense dealt with missiles and drones (photo: armyinform com ua)
During the night, Russia attacked Ukraine from several directions at once, using ballistic missiles and hundreds of drones. The main strike targeted the Dnipropetrovsk region, the Ukrainian Air Force reports.
How many were launched and from where
During the night of May 18, Russia carried out a combined strike against Ukraine. In total, 546 aerial attack objects were used - 22 missiles and 524 drones.
Attack involved:
- 14 Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missiles launched from the Rostov region and the occupied Crimea;
- 8 Iskander-K cruise missiles launched from occupied Crimea;
- 524 Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas attack drones and Parodiya imitation drones launched from Bryansk, Kursk, Oryol, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, occupied Donetsk and Hvardiiske in Crimea.
The main strike was directed at Dnipro and the Dnipropetrovsk region. Odesa region, Chernihiv region, and Zaporizhzhia were also attacked.
What air defense shot down
As of 8:30 a.m., air defense forces destroyed or suppressed 507 targets:
- 4 Iskander-K cruise missiles;
- 503 drones of various types.
- The attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile forces, electronic warfare units, drone operators, and mobile fire groups.
Hits from 18 missiles and 16 attack drones were recorded at 34 locations. Debris from downed drones fell at 11 additional locations.
At the time of publication, the attack was ongoing - several enemy drones remained in the air.
Consequences for cities
In Dnipro, a residential neighborhood was damaged during the overnight strike: fires broke out, and there were injuries.
In Odesa, a strike damaged a lycée and kindergarten - a child was among the injured.
Meanwhile, witnesses from Dnipro and Odesa described the night as one of the loudest in recent times - details of testimonies are available in RBC-Ukraine material.
