Large-scale attack on Ukraine: 45 enemy UAVs shot down, 40 more failed to reach their targets

Photo: Telegram channel of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

On the night of 19 December 2024, the Russian occupiers launched a large-scale attack on the territory of Ukraine. The attack was carried out with two Iskander-M ballistic missiles from the temporarily occupied Crimea and Rostov region, an X-59/69 guided missile from the airspace of Kursk region, as well as 85 Shahed-type attack unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other drones from the areas of Bryansk, Kursk, Millerovo and Orel.

This is reported by Time Ukraine Israel portal, citing the official Telegram channel of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Repelling an attack

The attack was repelled thanks to the coordinated work of Ukrainian aviation, anti-aircraft missile forces, electronic warfare (EW) units and mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian Air Force and Defence Forces. As of 08:30, 45 Shahed attack UAVs and other drones were confirmed to have been successfully shot down in Poltava, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Khmelnytsky, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Dnipro and Mykolaiv regions.

Another 40 enemy drones involved in the attack lost their location due to the active counteraction of the Defence Forces, which prevented negative consequences.

Consequences of a missile strike

The missile strikes damaged private and apartment buildings, as well as municipal infrastructure in Sumy and Dnipro regions. According to preliminary reports, there were no casualties. No UAV hits were recorded, and there is no information on damage or casualties.

The massive attack once again demonstrates the enemy’s aggressive tactics, but the effective work of the Ukrainian Air Force and Defence Forces allows us to minimise the consequences of these strikes. Ukrainians continue to hold the line, defending their right to freedom and independence.