Ukrainian Air Force Faces Unprecedented Russian Drone Offensive

The Ukrainian Air Force has stated that in a large-scale overnight offensive, Russian forces launched 741 aerial attack devices against Ukraine.

Among these, 728 were unmanned drones, deployed on the morning of July 9, The Caspian Post reports via Ukrainian media.

The assault included:

728 Shahed attack and decoy drones launched from Russian cities such as Bryansk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Kursk, Oryol, and Millerovo;

Seven cruise missiles (Kh-101/Iskander-K) fired from Engels in Saratov Oblast and the Kursk region;

Six aeroballistic Kh-47M2 “Kinzhal” missiles launched from the airspace above Lipetsk Oblast.

The city of Lutsk was the primary target of the strikes.

By 8:30 a.m. (GMT+3), Ukraine’s air defense systems had successfully intercepted and neutralized 718 of these incoming threats:

303 were shot down by direct fire, including 296 drones and seven cruise missiles;

415 drones were lost due to electronic warfare and countermeasures.

The attacks resulted in damage across four locations, while debris from intercepted drones and missiles was scattered over fourteen areas.