Ukraine’s air defence shoots down 128 Russian drones; hits recorded
Ukraine’s air defence forces neutralised 128 out of 147 drones launched by Russian troops in an attack that began on the evening of 17 March.
This was reported by the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
During the night of 18 March, starting at 6 p.m. the previous day, the enemy carried out a large-scale assault using 147 strike UAVs, including Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas, and other types of drones. Launches were conducted from the directions of Oryol, Kursk, Bryansk, Millerovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk (Russia), as well as from Hvardiiske in temporarily occupied Crimea. More than 70 of them were Shahed-type drones.
The air attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile forces, electronic warfare units, unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups of Ukraine’s Defence Forces.
“According to preliminary data, as of 8 a.m., air defence has shot down or suppressed 128 enemy UAVs of the Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas types and other drones across the north, south, and east of the country,” the statement said.
According to the military, 15 strike drones hit targets at 12 locations. In addition, debris from downed drones fell at three other locations.
The attack is ongoing, with hostile drones still present in Ukrainian airspace.
Citizens are urged not to ignore air raid alerts and to follow safety guidelines.
On the evening of 17 March, Russian occupying forces struck civilian infrastructure in the settlement of Slatyne using a drone.
On Tuesday, 17 March, Russian troops attacked the city of Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region with an FPV drone. The strike hit a residential building directly, damaging its facade.
Over the past day, 16 March 2026, border communities in the Chernihiv region were also subjected to attacks by Russian forces.
