Ukrainian Forces Down 25 of 38 Russian Drones in Overnight Assault

Ukrainian forces intercepted 25 of 38 Russian drones overnight, targeting several areas including Odesa and central Ukraine. The attack left drone debris in various regions, including Romanian territory. No damages were reported in Kyiv, while in Kherson, a man was killed by drone explosives. NATO jets were also deployed for monitoring.

Ukrainian forces successfully intercepted 25 out of 38 Russian attack drones launched overnight, according to Ukraine's air force chief.

'Last night, the enemy used 38 Shahed-131/136 attack drones, targeting Ukrainian infrastructure in various regions, including the south of Odesa and central Ukraine,' Mykola Oleshchiuk stated. He added that three drones lost contact after crossing into Romanian airspace but did not offer further details.

Romania’s defense ministry confirmed Russian drone fragments were discovered near Plauru village, opposite Ukraine’s Izmail port. Ongoing searches aim to locate additional debris, with officials noting no residential areas or infrastructure were impacted.

The attack further caused injuries in Izmail district, with two wounded individuals, while Zhytomyr and Kyiv escaped significant damage thanks to effective air defenses. In Kherson, a man succumbed to drone-dropped explosives.

Following Ukraine’s reclamation of Kherson in late 2022, Russian forces continue to launch drone and artillery attacks from the Dnipro River’s eastern bank. In a procedural response, NATO scrambled Finnish F-18 jets from Romania to monitor the situation. NATO member Romania has frequently experienced straying Russian drone fragments throughout the year.