Ukraine Intercepts 157 Drones in Major Overnight Assault by Russia.

Overnight Assault on February 2

According to Novyny.live: In a large-scale overnight assault on February 2, Russian forces launched a combined aerial attack against Ukraine, firing a ballistic missile and 171 attack drones. The weapons used in the attack included an Iskander-M ballistic missile and Shahed, Gerbera, and Italmas unmanned aerial vehicles.

Ukrainian Air Defense Response

By 09:00, Ukrainian forces had successfully intercepted or neutralized 157 of the drones, a significant defensive achievement. However, the ballistic missile and 12 attack drones managed to strike eight different locations. This demonstrates that despite the robust defensive efforts, some threats penetrated Ukraine's air defenses. These sustained aerial barrages have become a grim feature of the conflict, testing the limits of Ukraine's air defense capabilities, which are heavily reliant on Western-supplied systems.

This attack is part of Russia's ongoing, systematic campaign of aerial bombardment, which has intensified during the winter months. The Ukrainian military's response highlights both its preparedness and the persistent vulnerabilities to new waves of attacks.

The events of this night are likely to influence the future military calculations of both sides, as each large-scale attack and its interception carries significant tactical and strategic weight in the prolonged conflict.