russia-launches-major-drone-missile-attack-on-ukraine

Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on Ukraine overnight, targeting multiple regions across the country.

 

The Ukrainian military reported that the assault included three Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 133 drones, with air defence forces successfully intercepting a significant portion of them. The attack caused damage in several oblasts, highlighting the ongoing intensity of the conflict.

 

The Ukrainian air force stated that 98 drones were shot down, while another 20 failed to reach their intended targets, likely due to electronic warfare countermeasures.

 

However, details about the remaining 15 drones were not provided. The attack, which took place between the night of 11 March and the early hours of 12 March, saw Russian forces launching missiles and drones from various locations, including occupied Crimea and several Russian cities.

 

The assault primarily targeted the cities of Odesa and Kryvyi Rih, with missiles being fired from Crimea.

 

Alongside the ballistic missiles, Russia deployed Shahed-type drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles from locations such as Oryol, Shatalovo, Millerovo, Kursk, Bryansk, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk.

 

The widespread use of drones indicates an ongoing Russian strategy of overwhelming Ukrainian air defences with mass attacks.

 

By the morning of 12 March, Ukrainian officials confirmed that air defences had intercepted drones over several regions, including Kyiv, Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, Poltava, Cherkasy, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, Vinnytsia, Ternopil, Rivne, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, and Kherson oblasts.

 

Despite the defensive efforts, damage was reported in key areas, affecting both infrastructure and civilian structures.

 

In Kryvyi Rih, multiple explosions were reported in the morning following a missile strike. Authorities confirmed that one person had been killed and five others injured after an infrastructure facility was hit.

 

Additionally, the Kryvyi Rih district suffered further damage during the night as Russian forces targeted critical structures.

 

Odesa also witnessed severe destruction, with a missile strike on the port resulting in the deaths of four Syrian citizens and injuries to two others. The port, a crucial hub for trade and supplies, has been repeatedly targeted in recent months.

 

The attack underscores Russia’s continued focus on striking economic and logistical centres in Ukraine.

 

In Kyiv Oblast, falling debris from downed Russian drones caused fires, leading to the destruction of a residential house and a furniture shop. Similar incidents have occurred in the past, where drone interceptions have resulted in unintended collateral damage to civilian properties.

 

Ukraine’s air defence system has remained a crucial line of defence against Russian aerial attacks, but the scale and frequency of drone and missile assaults pose ongoing challenges.

 

The use of electronic warfare has proven effective in neutralising some drones, yet the continued intensity of Russian strikes highlights the difficulties faced in completely preventing damage.