79 Drones Downed: Ukraine’s Air Defense Repels Major Overnight Russian Strike.

Massive Nighttime Assault by Russia

According to Novyny.live: On the night of June 22, Russian forces launched a combined aerial attack on Ukraine, deploying a ballistic missile and a large swarm of drones. The assault involved an Iskander-M ballistic missile and 88 strike unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) of various types, launched from both Russian territory and temporarily occupied areas of Ukraine.

By 8:30 AM local time, Ukraine’s air defense forces confirmed they had successfully shot down or neutralized 79 of the enemy drones. The ballistic missile and five strike drones hit targets across six locations. Debris from intercepted drones fell across nine separate areas, underscoring the attack’s wide geographic scope.

Impact and Casualties

In the Sumy region, Russian forces targeted five different communities. Meanwhile, in Zaporizhzhia, a drone strike killed one woman and wounded three other people. These incidents highlight the ongoing threat Russia poses to Ukrainian cities and civilians.

This assault ranks among the largest in recent weeks, reflecting Russia’s escalating aggression and its continued reliance on aerial weapons in the war against Ukraine. The successful interception of the majority of drones demonstrates the readiness and effectiveness of Ukraine’s air defense systems. However, civilian casualties and infrastructure damage remain serious security challenges for the country.