Ukraine's air defense forces have successfully repelled the most massive air attack since Russia's full-scale invasion began, according to Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk on Telegram.
The overnight assault on August 26, saw Russian forces launch an overwhelming 236 air assets, including 127 missiles and 109 attack drones, targeting multiple locations across Ukraine.
Among the advanced weapons used were three Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, launched from Russian airspace over Ryazan and Lipetsk oblasts. The attack also featured six Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles fired from Kursk and Voronezh regions and from Crimea, which remains under Russian occupation.
The air assault included a mix of missile types, with 77 Kh-101 cruise missiles launched by Tu-95MS aircraft from the Volgograd oblast and the Caspian Sea, 28 Kalibr cruise missiles from Black Sea-based platforms, and three Kh-22 cruise missiles from Voronezh airspace.
Additionally, 10 Kh-59/Kh-69 guided missiles were launched from Su-57 and Su-34 aircraft near Belgorod and Mariupol.
The most numerous weapons in the assault were 109 Shahed-131/136 kamikaze drones, launched from Prymorsko-Akhtarsk, Kursk, and Yeysk.
Despite the scale of the attack, Ukraine's air defense forces managed to intercept and destroy 201 of the air targets. This included 102 missiles and 99 drones, marking a victory.
Among the downed weapons were:
1 Kh-47M2 Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missile
1 Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missile
1 Kh-22 cruise missile
99 Kh-101, Kalibr cruise missiles, and Kh-59/69 guided missiles
99 Shahed-131/136 attack UAVs
In response to the increasing intensity of Russian attacks, the United States has prioritized Ukraine as a key recipient of anti-aircraft missiles.
This includes MIM-104 missiles for the Patriot air defense system and AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles for NASAMS systems, ensuring Ukraine remains equipped to defend against the relentless threat to its civilian infrastructure.
