Russia launches combined attack on Ukraine: air defence downs 503 drones and 4 missiles, strikes recorded
Russian forces launched a combined strike against Ukraine using attack UAVs and ground-based missiles on the night of 17-18 May. The main targets of the attack were the city of Dnipro and Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Odesa, Chernihiv and Zaporizhzhia oblasts were also bombarded.
Source: Ukrainian Air Force
Details: According to the Air Force's air surveillance troops, a total of 546 aerial attack weapons were detected, including 22 missiles and 524 UAVs:
- 14 Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missiles
- 8 Iskander-K cruise missiles
- 524 strike UAVs, including Shahed, Gerbera and Italmas drones, as well as Parodiya decoy drones.
The air assault was repelled by aircraft, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare assets and unmanned systems units as well as mobile fire groups from Ukraine's defence forces.
Early reports indicate that as of 08:30, Ukrainian air defence had shot down or jammed 507 targets – four missiles and 503 drones of various types:
- 4 Iskander-K cruise missiles
- 503 UAVs of various types.
Strikes from 18 missiles and 16 UAVs were recorded at 34 locations, while debris from downed drones fell at 11 locations.
The attack is ongoing, with several Russian UAVs still in the air.
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