Ukraine shoots down 33 of 70 Russian drones in overnight attack

Kyiv (Eurotoday) – The Ukrainian Air Force reported that its air defences destroyed 33 out of 70 drones launched by Russia. It also noted that another 37 drones had been “locationally lost” without any negative consequences, likely due to electronic jamming.

Since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, Ukraine’s air force has been actively targeting Russian drones. Initially, Ukraine struggled to counter these threats due to weak air defence systems. However, with international support and improved technology, its interception capabilities have significantly strengthened.

Over the past two months, Russia has intensified its drone attacks on Ukraine. On February 14, a Russian drone carrying a high-explosive warhead struck the Chornobyl nuclear power plant in the Kyiv region. The attack hit the concrete shelter that protects the plant’s damaged fourth reactor, causing a fire that was later extinguished. Chornobyl was the site of the 1986 disaster that spread radioactive contamination across parts of the Soviet Union and Europe.

How has Russia escalated drone attacks on Ukraine?

Since 2022, Russia has deployed thousands of Shahed-type drones against Ukraine. Despite Ukraine’s strong interception rate, roughly 14% of these drones have managed to breach its defences.

In late January and early February, Russian drone strikes targeted critical infrastructure across Ukraine. For instance, on January 28, drones hit key infrastructure in the city of Uman (Cherkasy Oblast), disrupting electricity and heating supply.

By August 2024, more than 7,550 Shahed-type and other UAVs had been launched against Ukraine. The Ukrainian Air Force has an overall interception rate that varies but generally remains around 63% across different drone types (Shahed and Lancet). For Shahed drones specifically, the interception rate averages approximately 86%.