Air defense forces successfully take down 59 targets as Russian troops unleash 55 missiles and 21 drones on Ukraine
Illustrative picture / NATO
The Russian troops launched 55 missiles and 21 kamikaze attack drones on the night of May 8, targeting Ukraine. Fortunately, Ukraine's air defense forces could successfully shoot down 59 of these enemy attacks.
The commander of the Air Force of Ukraine's armed forces, Mykola Oleshchuk, reports that on Telegram.
"On the night of May 8, 2024, the Russian occupiers launched a combined attack with missiles of various types and attack UAVs. In total, the enemy used 76 means of air attack – 55 missiles and 21 attack drones," the general said.
Russian invaders unleashed on Ukraine:
- 1 Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missile (launched from the Tambov region of Russia);
- 2 "Iskander-M" ballistic missiles (from the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea);
- 4 Kalibr cruise missiles (from the Black Sea);
- 45 Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles from Tu-95 MS strategic aviation aircraft (launch area of the Saratov region of the Russian Federation, Caspian Sea water area);
- 1 "Iskander-K" cruise missile (from Crimea);
- 2 Kh-59/Kh-69 guided air missiles (from the occupied Zaporizhzhia region);
- 21 "Shahed-131/136" attack UAVs (from Primorsko-Akhtarsk regions, Kursk region of the Russian Federation).
As Oleshchuk reported, fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft missile forces of the Air Force, mobile fire groups, and electronic warfare units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine were involved in repelling the enemy's air attack.
Photo: Telegram / Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk
As a result of anti-aircraft combat, 59 air targets were destroyed, including:
- 33 Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles;
- 4 Kalibr cruise missiles;
- 2 Kh-59/Kh-69 guided air missiles;
- 20 attack UAVs of the "Shahed-131/136" type.
"The enemy continues to attack the critical infrastructure of Ukraine and other important strategic objects. I thank everyone who made every effort today to prevent the enemy from achieving its goals," the commander noted.
For reference:
During the night of May 7–8, Russian soldiers initiated a significant assault on several Ukrainian regions, utilizing kamikaze drones and a variety of missiles.
The enemy attacked the regions of Poltava, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Vinnytsia.
The invaders also launched a major assault on the capital and surrounding area, utilizing kamikaze drones and rockets. Fortunately, Ukrainian anti-aircraft defenses successfully took down all enemy targets over Kyiv. However, due to one strike in the region, two people were injured.
In turn, the Ministry of Energy announced that electricity generation and transmission facilities were attacked in six regions: Poltava, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Vinnytsia.
According to Ukraine's energy minister, the consequences are being clarified, and energy experts are already working on eliminating them.
