During a large-scale Russian attack, Ukraine's defense forces downed 92 drones and three Banderoli loitering munitions.

Ukraine comes under heavy overnight assault

According to Рубрика — Суспільство: Between Sunday evening and Monday morning, Russian forces launched a major attack on Ukrainian territory. The onslaught began at 18:00 on August 9 from airspace over the Black Sea, involving a Kh-59/69 guided missile, three Banderol loitering munitions, and 126 strike drones. By 09:00, Ukraine's defenders had managed to shoot down or suppress 92 UAVs of various types, along with all three Banderoli.

How Kyiv responded and what was launched

The drones were sent from several directions, including Kursk, Millerovo, Oryol, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, as well as from occupied areas such as Donetsk and Hvardiiske in Crimea. Among the UAVs were Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas, and Parody decoy drones. The enemy's guided missile did not reach its target, though the exact crash site is still being determined.

In total, 31 strike drones hit at 22 locations, and wreckage came down in two more areas. Ukrainian air defense assets-including aviation, surface-to-air missile units, electronic warfare teams, and mobile fire groups-were actively engaged in repelling the attack. The Air Force of Ukraine's Armed Forces warned civilians to stay safe, saying: “As a result of active counteraction, the enemy missile did not reach its target; information on the crash location is being updated. The attack is ongoing; several enemy UAVs remain in the airspace. Follow safety rules!”

This latest strike highlights the persistent threat Ukrainian forces face and reflects the continued intensity of combat in the region. For international observers, it also underscores how reliant Russia has become on large waves of drones and decoys to test and strain Ukraine's air defense network.

The ongoing conflict continues to escalate, as evidenced by Ukraine's recent defense efforts. For a broader perspective on the scale of these attacks and the effectiveness of air defense measures, you can read about how Ukrainian forces intercepted 135 targets during a similar assault that involved 151 drones and missiles in a previous incident.