KYIV — A devastating overnight attack by Russian forces has resulted in the deaths of at least 16 individuals and left over 100 injured, as nearly 700 drones and 44 missiles targeted various regions in Ukraine.
Ukrainian air defense units successfully intercepted the majority of the drones, managing to down 636 of them. However, they were only able to thwart eight out of 19 ballistic missiles that breached the nation’s airspace. The cities of Kyiv, Dnipro, and Odesa were among the primary locations suffering from these strikes.
“We managed to shoot down 636 drones and part of the missiles. Unfortunately, not all. There are hits and damage to ordinary houses,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on X on Thursday.
According to Ukraine’s Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, the nation has successfully downed approximately 90 percent of the drones and nearly 80 percent of the cruise missiles launched by Russia in the past six months. During a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Berlin on Wednesday, he reported that between last November and March this year, the Kremlin had deployed 462 ballistic missiles, around 600 cruise missiles, and an alarming 27,000 Shahed-type drones against Ukraine.
Shortage of anti-ballistic capabilities
Despite these successful interceptions, Kyiv is grappling with a significant shortage of anti-ballistic defenses, heavily reliant on supplies from Western allies. Reports indicate an acute scarcity of PAC-2 and PAC-3 interceptor missiles, a situation exacerbated since the onset of U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran in late February.
Seeking alternatives and commitments from allies
In light of these challenges, Ukraine is actively seeking alternatives to PAC missiles while urging its partners to uphold their commitments. “There are many political commitments from partners that have already been voiced but not yet implemented, including in the ‘Ramstein’ format and on a bilateral basis,” Zelenskyy remarked on Thursday. He has directed the commander of the air force to reach out to allies who had previously promised missile support for systems like the ‘Patriots’ and others.