Ukrainian Air Defenses Intercept 392 of 425 Russian Missiles and Drones in Major Assault

Russia Launches Large-Scale Air Assault on Ukraine

According to Главком: In the early hours of February 17, Russian forces carried out a massive combined missile and drone attack across Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, a total of 425 aerial targets were launched in the assault, including:

• 4 'Iskander-M' ballistic missiles
• 20 Kh-101 cruise missiles
• 4 'Iskander-K' cruise missiles
• 1 Kh-59/69 guided air-to-surface missile
• 396 attack unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)

Ukraine's air defense forces managed to destroy or neutralize 392 of these targets, demonstrating a high rate of successful interception. This attack is part of Russia's ongoing campaign to degrade Ukrainian infrastructure and morale through long-range strikes.

Impact and Aftermath

The attack resulted in impacts at 13 locations, with falling debris reported at 8 other sites. In Odesa, critical infrastructure and civilian buildings were damaged, leaving two people injured. The assault continued until approximately 09:30, with hostile UAVs remaining active in Ukrainian airspace for hours. The primary targets of the strike included:

• Burshtyn
• Zaporizhzhia
• Dnipro
• Lozova
• Odesa
• Chornomorsk
• Stryi
• Vilniansk
• The front line

The targets successfully downed or suppressed comprised 20 Kh-101 cruise missiles, 4 'Iskander-K' cruise missiles, 1 Kh-59/69 missile, and 367 UAVs, including models such as Shahed, 'Gerbera', 'Italmas', and others. This latest barrage underscores the continued intensity of the conflict and the persistent threat to Ukrainian urban centers. While the high interception rate shows significant progress in Ukraine's air defense capabilities, the damage inflicted highlights the critical need for continued international support to bolster these defensive systems and protect civilian lives.