During the night of April 18, 2025, Ukrainian air defense forces successfully repelled a large-scale aviation and missile attack carried out by Russian occupiers targeting various regions of the country
According to preliminary information released by the Ukrainian Air Forces command via Telegram, Ukrainian defenders, considering the complexity of the situation, identified and intercepted 43 targets, including 6 cruise missiles of different types and 37 attack drones — of which 23 were Shahed-type attack UAVs. The source reports that during the nighttime assault, the enemy employed ground-launched missiles and attack drones belonging to the Russian army. Specifically, through radio technical reconnaissance and surveillance, 6 cruise missiles were detected and tracked, including "Iskander" cruise missiles and an "Iskander-M" ballistic missile launched from the area of the Crimean Peninsula. According to intelligence, these ballistic missiles were launched from the occupied territory of the peninsula and aimed at Ukraine. Overall, Ukrainian military forces recorded the launch of six "Iskander" missiles. These missiles, launched from areas adjacent to the temporarily occupied territories of Zaporizhzhia region and Crimea, attempted to cause maximum possible destruction and damage to Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure. An additional five "Iskander" cruise missiles of this type were launched from regions in Zaporizhzhia and the Crimean Peninsula. Furthermore, Russian occupiers deployed 37 Shahed attack drones, actively used to target infrastructure, residential areas, and military objectives. All these drones were launched in different directions, notably from Millerovo and Kursk regions in Russia, highlighting the scale and complexity of the attack. It is noted that Ukrainian air defense and ground units, including aviation, anti-aircraft batteries, radio-technical, and electronic warfare systems, responded quickly to the enemy's assaults. By 9:30 a.m., it was already confirmed that 26 out of the 43 targets had been destroyed — including 3 "Iskander-K" cruise missiles and 23 Shahed attack drones. In total, since the beginning of this attack, the enemy has also lost 10 decoy drones used to mask real targets and attack air defense systems. This once again demonstrates the efforts of Ukrainian forces to counter large-scale assaults and indicates their high level of training, as well as the advanced aviation and missile technology they possess. At the same time, it should be noted that the effects of the nighttime attack have been felt in several Ukrainian regions — in Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, and Kyiv regions. Details about the scale of destruction and casualties are still being clarified, but it is already known that civilian objects and infrastructure were damaged as a result of the enemy attack. Overall, the situation remains tense — Ukrainian defense forces continue tirelessly working to neutralize enemy assets and prevent major destruction, but the adversary still aims to increase pressure and maintain their positions. Military analysts are assessing the consequences of the attack and preparing responses amid ongoing security challenges, as every hour of saving lives and preserving infrastructure is of extraordinary importance for Ukraine's future.