Photo: Getty Images
On the night of March 18, Russia carried out another large-scale air attack on Ukraine, launching 147 drones from six directions.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force (via Telegram), air defenses shot down or suppressed 128 drones, but 15 strikes were recorded across 12 locations, with debris from intercepted drones falling in three additional areas.
🔻 Attack details
The attack began at around 18:00 on March 17
Russia used a mix of UAVs, including:
“Shahed” attack drones (more than 70 units)
“Gerbera” and “Italmas” drones
other unidentified UAV types
Launch sites included:
Oryol, Kursk, Bryansk, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk (Russia)
Hvardiiske (temporarily occupied Crimea)
🛡️ Air defense response
The attack was repelled by multiple components of Ukraine’s defense forces:
aviation
surface-to-air missile units
electronic warfare systems
unmanned systems units
mobile fire groups
Despite a high interception rate, some drones penetrated defenses, leading to confirmed impacts.
⚠️ Ongoing situation
The Ukrainian Air Force warned that:
the attack was still ongoing as of the morning
several enemy drones remained in Ukrainian airspace
civilians should continue to follow safety precautions
📊 Strategic context: Russia’s drone expansion
Russia is rapidly scaling its drone warfare capabilities:
at least $3 billion invested in drone production
more than 900 companies involved
estimated production capacity: ~30,000 attack drones per year, potentially doubling by 2026
According to EU officials, Russia could be capable of deploying 7 to 9 million drones annually by 2026, indicating a shift toward mass, low-cost aerial warfare at scale.
📌 Key takeaway
This attack highlights:
multi-directional drone assaults designed to overwhelm air defense
increasing reliance on cheap, mass-produced UAVs
the growing importance of layered air defense and electronic warfare
Ukraine continues to adapt by improving interception efficiency and deploying more cost-effective countermeasures.
