Russia intensifies assault with advanced drones and missiles on Ukraine
7:40 AM EDT, April 11, 2024
Anton Gerashchenko, through the X service, shared that the attacks occurred in several Ukrainian regions, including Kharkiv, Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Odessa, and Lviv. The assault involved at least 40 Shahed-131 and Shahed-136 strike drones, 20 different cruise missiles, 12 anti-aircraft guided missiles from S-300 systems, and Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles.
Masked attack by the Russians. What weapon did they use?
This extensive arsenal indicates deploying MiG-31K fighter jets and Tu-95MS strategic bombers—aircraft primarily used by Russia in large, organized, and well-planned attacks.
The MiG-31K is a supersonic interceptor known for its significant role when air raid alarms sound across Ukraine. This is mainly due to its carrier capacity for the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles. These missiles boast a range of up to 1,243 miles, are 23 feet long, weigh over 4 tons, and can reach Mach 8-10 speeds.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to the attack, expressing gratitude to the soldiers for their defence efforts and acknowledging that some enemy drones and missiles were intercepted. However, he noted that many missiles reached their targets, highlighting gaps in Ukraine’s air defence capabilities.
"Each of our European neighbours and partners sees how critically Ukraine needs air defence. It is here, now, thanks to our ability to withstand Russian terror, that the world can demonstrate a unified stance against terror as a crime," remarked President Zelensky.
Recently, Ukrainian authorities have requested assistance in acquiring Patriot air defence systems. Finding additional units for the front has proven challenging for Western allies. At the last NATO summit, German officials mentioned ongoing efforts to source these weapons globally to meet Ukraine’s needs.
