Russia changed tactics and used a record number of ballistic missiles during the shelling
Russian forces carried out an unusual, large-scale attack that lasted for a full day and was marked by shifting strike times and an unprecedented use of ballistic missiles.
According to Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ignat, this was the first time the enemy had deployed such a large number of ballistic missiles in a single operation, posing a challenge to Ukrainian air defense forces.
This air operation effectively turned into a 24-hour marathon of terror, which began at 7 a.m. on April 15 and ended only 24 hours later.
“It was, in fact, a 24-hour attack from 7 a.m. yesterday to 7 a.m. today, April 16, during which the enemy deployed a large number of air attack assets,” explained Yuriy Ignat.
The first phase of the attack consisted of 20 air-launched X-101 cruise missiles. Ukrainian defenders demonstrated exceptional effectiveness, intercepting 19 of them.
Tactical aviation played a crucial role in this, particularly the new F-16 fighters, which enable nearly 100% success in engaging cruise missiles.
However, the second wave, consisting of 19 Iskander-M or S-400 ballistic missiles, proved much more difficult to repel.
The enemy directed strikes at Kyiv, Dnipro, the Odesa region, and the Kharkiv region. Five hits were recorded in the capital, resulting in casualties and significant damage to civilian infrastructure.
Intercepting ballistic missiles remains a critical task for the Armed Forces of Ukraine due to the limited number of specialized defense systems.
“Ballistics remain our Achilles’ heel today,” emphasized the Air Force spokesperson.
Of the 19 missiles launched, only 8 were successfully intercepted, underscoring the urgent need for additional Patriot systems.
A distinctive feature of this attack was the enemy’s departure from the usual pattern of a combined strike in the early morning.
“The enemy changed the timing of their cruise missile strikes, and yesterday evening we saw an attack carried out specifically with cruise missiles,” Ignat noted.
Before the main strike, the Russians conducted an exhaustive reconnaissance-in-force, launching over 300 drones.
Four people were killed and dozens wounded in Kyiv as a result of the Russian attack
In the Dnipropetrovsk region, three people were killed and 34 injured due to a massive attack by the Russian Federation.
The approximate route of the missiles and drones used in Russia’s combined attack on Ukraine has been released
Over the past 24 hours, from 7:00 a.m. on April 15 to 7:00 a.m. on April 16, Ukraine’s air defense forces neutralized 667 aerial targets used by Russia to attack the country’s territory.
The death toll in Dnipro has risen following a nighttime attack by Russian forces. As of now, two people are known to have been killed and 27 wounded.
