Russian missile and drone attacks have once again shaken Ukraine’s rear: nearly 200 air attack assets involved in the strike on Ukraine
On the night of June 14-15, Ukrainian air space was again affected by a large-scale Russian aggression. According to operational information from the Ukrainian Air Force, the enemy employed over 190 air attack devices in the assault on Ukraine, including drones, missiles, and various types of aeroballistic weapons. More than half of these — about 167 — were neutralized by Ukrainian defenders either while in the air or during attempts to hit targets. This indicates a high level of air defense capability in the country, which is resisting a massive Russian attack that, overall, was among the most powerful in recent times. Official reports state that during this night, the Russians used 194 attack means. Of these, 119 were shot down directly by Ukrainian air defense systems. The remaining 48 were deemed lost, meaning debris and partially destroyed equipment were registered on the ground. Notably, among the destroyed assets, drones stand out — a total of 111 were shot down, which became the main attacking force of the enemy. In addition to drones, high-precision cruise and ballistic missiles appeared in the sky. Specifically, Russian military forces used two "Kinzhal" aeroballistic missiles capable of high-speed flight and destroying targets at significant distances. Moreover, three "Iskander-K" and "Kalibr" missiles, as well as two strategic "Iskander-M" missiles and the X-47M2 "Kinzhal" missile, which belong to high-precision aviation weapons, were used. Sources from Ukrainian military structures report that the primary direction of the strike was focused on the Poltava region, with a particular emphasis on the city of Kremenchuk. This city became the epicenter of destruction and debris: in several areas, missile and drone debris falls were recorded, creating a threat to local residents and infrastructure. The missile attack was accompanied by a powerful drone salvo, most of which were decoys — so-called "Shaheds," used by Russia to reduce losses of their main strike assets and to enhance psychological pressure on Ukrainian defenders and civilians. Among them, 183 drones were specifically of the Shahed type. At the same time, high-tech modern missiles were employed: two "Kinzhal" and "Iskander" missiles, which serve as strategic strikes on important Ukrainian infrastructure and military targets. Overall, the nighttime attack confirms the high level of preparedness and focus of Russian troops on delivering maximum destructive hits. Ukrainian defense, while demonstrating significant professionalism and efficiency that help reduce enemy losses, still faces complex tasks in preventing civilian object hits and avoiding widespread destruction in regions under attack. European and global observers continue to call for increased support to Ukraine in countering aggression and for more effective air defense systems, which could help reduce casualties and ensure civilian safety. It is also important to emphasize that each such attack is not only an attempt to break Ukrainian resistance but also a signal to the international community about the need for intensified diplomatic and military measures to stop this ongoing humanitarian and strategic crisis, which has been continuing for over several years.