Russia launches 28 drones, three cruise missiles at Ukraine: Ukraine’s air force

KYIV (Reuters): Russia launched 28 attack drones and three cruise missile at Ukraine overnight, Ukraine’s air force said on Sunday, adding that its air defense systems destroyed 21 of the drones.

The air force said on its Telegram messaging channel that Russia targeted mainly south and east of Ukraine, but it did not say what happened to the three cruise missiles that it says Russia had launched.

“The enemy is shifting the focus of attack to the frontline territories — Kherson and Dnipropetrovsk regions were attacked by drones,” Ukraine’s Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat told national television.

Reuters could not independently verify the report. There was no immediate comment from Russia.

No damage or casualties have been reported by both military and civilian authorities.

Ihnat said drones were predominantly destroyed by mobile teams, saving “scarce” air defense missiles.

He said Ukrainian forces used some missiles to repel two recent major Russian attacks but “processes are under way to
continue to provide Ukraine with the number of missiles needed to repel air attacks.”

Russia had deployed almost 300 missiles and more than 200 drones in attacks in the last days of 2023 and the first days of 2024.