Air defenses neutralize 63 out of 82 drones used by Russia in overnight attack on Ukraine

Ukraine's air defense forces neutralized 63 out of the 82 UAVs launched by Russia in an attack on Ukraine beginning on the evening of December 17.

According to Ukrinform, the Ukrainian Air Force reported this on Telegram.

The statement said that starting at 18:00 on Wednesday, December 17, Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 82 strike UAVs, including Shahed- and Gerbera-type drones as well as other types, launched from Millerovo, Kursk, Oryol, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk (Russia). About 50 of them were Shahed-type drones.

The aerial assault was repelled by aircraft, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare and unmanned systems units, as well as mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

According to preliminary data, as of 08:30 on Thursday, December 18, air defenses had shot down or suppressed 63 drones over northern, southern, eastern, and central regions of Ukraine.

Nineteen strike UAVs were recorded hitting targets at 12 locations, while debris from downed targets fell at eight locations.

The attack is ongoing, with several enemy UAVs still in Ukrainian airspace.

As reported, six people were injured in Cherkasy following a Russian drone attack in the early hours of December 18, and part of the city was left without power.