On the night of June 9, Ukrainian defenders recorded a large-scale enemy attack by the Russian Federation, which turned out to be one of the most massive in recent times
Overall, Ukraine’s air defense forces managed to neutralize almost all airborne threats — 479 targets out of nearly 500 drones and missiles launched. This was achieved thanks to the precise work of Ukrainian air defense systems, which demonstrated high professionalism and effectiveness in combating the enemy. According to official statements from the Ukrainian Air Force, between 8:00 PM on June 8 and the morning of June 9, the aggressor's forces launched a powerful wave of attack. Moscow was fully simulated, and vital infrastructure objects of the country — including several Ukrainian airfields — were taken out of operation, highlighting the high level of targeted action that night. The enemy attempted to strike with various weapons: from the Kursk, Shatalovka, Oryol, Millerovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk directions, Russia mobilized over five hundred unmanned aerial vehicles, mostly Shahed types and imitators of various models. At the same time, the Russians employed more serious weaponry — air-based ballistic missiles X-47 "Kinzhal" from the Tambov region, cruise missiles X-101 from Saratov, and strategic X-22 missiles from the Black Sea airspace. Additionally, rockets X-35 launched from temporarily occupied Crimea indicate a multi-tiered and large-scale logistics effort aimed at striking Ukrainian territory. During a televised briefing, Ukrainian military experts reported that the main strike was directed at one of the key airfields, and added that air defense efforts were fully focused on disabling enemy assets. According to the command, 479 targets were neutralized during this remnant of the attack — 292 were destroyed by fire, and 187 were suppressed through electronic warfare and other electronic countermeasures. Specifically, out of the 479 destroyed targets, Ukrainian air defense systems shot down 277 Shahed drones and other UAVs, while another 183 were suppressed or destroyed by electronic means. Regarding the ground-based weapons of the invaders, 10 X-101 cruise missiles, 4 "Kinzhal" missiles, 2 X-22 missiles, and anti-radiation H-31P missiles, along with one X-35 missile, were destroyed — all targets were pre-identified and successfully destroyed. Furthermore, it should be noted that the mix of munitions caused significant destruction. Strikes were recorded at 10 locations, and wreckage from downed missiles and drones fell in 17 different areas of the country. This confirms the high criticality of the situation and the ability of Ukrainian air defense to respond effectively even to the most complex challenges in the skies. Overall, Russia’s nighttime attack confirms its high level of combat activity and deliberate effort to destroy Ukrainian infrastructure. However, the united efforts of Ukrainian defenders not only reduced the number of successful enemy hits but also demonstrated to the wider world the crucial role of Ukrainian air defense and showed that Ukrainians consistently respond even to complex and large-scale challenges in the sky.