Ukraine repels massive Russian explosive drone assault, destroying 71/80 Shaheds
Last night, Ukraine's air defense intercepted 71 of 80 drones, while several more crashed. The rest damaged infrastructure in Poltava and Khmelnytskyi, no one was hurt.
In the early hours of 22 September, Russian forces launched a massive drone attack on Ukraine, with the Ukrainian Air Force reporting that 80 Shahed-type drones were launched from Yeysk and Kursk in Russia. Additionally, two Kh-59/69 guided air-launched missiles were fired from the temporarily occupied territory of Luhansk Oblast.
Ukraine’s air defense systems were active in 10 oblasts, including Khmelnytskyi, Vinnytsia, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Sumy, Poltava, Kherson, and Mykolaiv. The Ukrainian Air Force, air defense units, mobile fire groups, and electronic warfare units of the Defense Forces were involved in repelling the attack.
According to the Air Force,
“As a result of the air defense battle, 71 attack UAVs were shot down, and another six drones were locationally lost due to electronic warfare countermeasures.”
The term “locationally lost” suggests that these drones disappeared from radars and likely crashed. With 71 downed and 6 crashed drones, at least three appear to have reached their targets.
In Poltava Oblast, the attack resulted in damage to energy infrastructure. Filip Pronin, head of the Poltava Oblast Military Administration, reported that 56 household and 30 commercial consumers were left without electricity. Energy workers are currently working to restore power supply.
In Khmelnytskyi, a three-story residential building was damaged. Serhii Tiurin, head of the Khmelnytskyi Oblast Military Administration, stated that the building’s roof was damaged and windows were blown out.
Despite the extensive attack, there have been no reports of casualties or injuries in the affected areas.
Related:
- Kharkiv residential area hit by FAB-250 bomb, 21 locals injured
- Ukraine neutralizes all 70 Russian Shaheds in nighttime attack; other strikes kill at least 2, injure 22 civilians
- Ukraine intercepts all 42 Russian drones; other Russian attacks kill four, injure 20 civilians in four regions
- Russian drone attack targets Konotop and Sumy cities as Ukraine downs 34 Shaheds of 51
- Ukraine repels massive Russian drone attack, downing 53 of 56 Shaheds in another nightly assault
- Russian missile strike on Poltava university and hospital kills 41, injures over 180
- Russia attacks Khmelnytskyi Oblast with explosive drones, Ukraine downs them all
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