Russia's drone blitz thwarted by formidable Ukrainian defense

On that same night in 2024, Russian forces again targeted Ukraine, utilizing both assault drones and ballistic missiles. Ukrainian air defense reported numerous accomplishments in intercepting enemy drones and missiles. According to reports from the Ukrainian Air Force, 56 out of 87 Shahed drones and two missiles were intercepted.

Unfortunately, as a consequence of Saturday's attacks, one civilian lost their life within the last 24 hours. Additionally, Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of the regional authorities, reported on Telegram that 15 people were injured in the Kharkiv region.

Air raid alerts were in place for more than five hours in the eastern part of Ukraine. Serhiy Popko, the head of Kyiv's military administration, confirmed that all enemy aerial threats in the capital region were successfully neutralized. He assured that the attack did not inflict significant damage in the Kyiv area.

The Russian forces employed a range of weaponry in their attack on Ukraine, utilizing Shahed drones and various missiles. The Ukrainians detected over 90 enemy combat units, including drones and two Iskander-M ballistic missiles, one Iskander-K missile, one guided Ch-59/69 missile, besides the 87 drones.

Russia utilizes two variants of Shahed drones, the Shahed-136 and Shahed-131, supplied by Iran. Although these drones are relatively simple in design, they pose a significant threat. Both drones have similar appearances and capabilities. The Shahed-136 measures approximately 11 feet in length and can reach speeds of up to 115 mph, carrying a warhead weighing about 88 pounds. The Shahed-131 is slightly smaller and can be armed with a warhead weighing between 22 and 33 pounds.

The Ch-69 (Kh-59MK2) missile weighs about 1,764 pounds, with the warhead accounting for 661 pounds. One of its main advantages is its extensive range, reaching up to 248 miles. Additionally, the missile's stealth features make it challenging to detect and intercept during flight.

The Ch-69 missile is an advanced iteration of the Ch-59 missile, initially unveiled in 1991. This newer model includes stealth characteristics that increase its evasion capabilities.

Iskander-M is a short-range ballistic missile system that enables precise strikes at distances of about 311 miles. At just over 23 feet long, it is equipped with advanced guidance systems that allow it to circumvent modern defense systems.

Iskander-K is a cruise missile system capable of reaching distances up to 373 miles. Iskander-K missiles are slightly smaller than Iskander-M, with a length of about 29 feet, and their advanced stealth technologies pose difficulties for enemy air defense systems.

The Ukrainian forces mounted an effective defense against the offensive. They successfully shot down two missiles and 56 Shahed-type drones. Defense efforts included engagement by aviation, missile units, electronic warfare units, and mobile firing groups.

Due to lost communication, 25 drones crashed, likely due to effective countermeasures involving electronic warfare. However, the Air Force did not disclose specific locations where the drones not shot down landed.