Night Air Attack by Russian Invaders: Shocking Results and Heroic Resistance of Ukrainian Air Defence
On the evening of June 18, Ukraine was again subjected to waves of enemy unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks. According to official sources, Ukrainian air defense forces skillfully repelled over 50 drones, with some losses. Analyzing the situation that unfolded last night highlights the scale of the challenges faced by Ukrainian defenses and the courage of the military fighting to defend their skies. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, throughout the evening of June 18, Russian invaders launched a massive barrage of Attack UAVs, primarily of the Shahed type, along with drones of various other models. At that time, over 100 UAV targets were in the air — of which 88 were successfully destroyed by Ukraine to minimize threats to the population and infrastructure. Forty drones were shot down by fire weapons, including missiles and anti-aircraft systems, while another 48 were suppressed or localized by electronic warfare (EW) systems, reducing their ability to reach their targets and continue the attack. However, despite the heroic efforts of air defense, there were losses: six strikes hit targets in different regions of Ukraine. This indicates that the enemy continues attempting to destabilize the situation in the country by exerting strategic pressure through nighttime shellings. Unfortunately, these hits caused damage to infrastructure facilities and likely resulted in human casualties and destruction. The attacks came from several directions — including Russian cities Millerovo, Kursk, and Orel, which are on Russian territory and regularly serve as launch points for attacks on Ukraine, as well as from the temporarily occupied Crimea — from Cape Chauda. These points are key to Russia’s terror strategy, and their use demonstrates the scale and targeted nature of these assaults. The defense of Ukraine’s airspace was carried out coherently by aviation units, air defense forces, electronic warfare systems, UAV technologies, mobile fire groups, and other defense subunits working in coordination to minimize the effectiveness of the Russian drone attacks. These night events once again confirm the high mobilization and determination of the Ukrainian army to counter the aggressor, working on strengthening the air defense system. Despite significant losses and a complex situation, Ukrainian defenders show steadfast spirit and unwavering readiness to protect every inch of their sky, confronting the enemy in its attacks. Ukraine continues to resist, and the war over its skies goes on. The country needs support and modern defense systems to effectively counter such threats, as each attack is a reminder of the price of freedom and the importance of preserving the shattered peace.