In overnight operations, Ukraine’s air defences successfully intercepted and shot down nine out of ten Russian drones in the Mykolayiv and Odesa regions as well as near Zhytomyr in the centre and in the Khmelnytskyi region in the west of the country, according to a statement from the air force on Friday.
Since July, Russia has been increasing its attacks on Ukrainian ports, including Odesa, and grain infrastructure. This comes after Moscow’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a deal that had facilitated Ukraine’s exports to reach African countries during wartime food shortages.
The air force also reported that Russian forces had fired multiple C-300 missiles in an overnight attack near the frontline in the eastern Donetsk region. Reuters was unable to independently verify the extent of the damage caused by these attacks.
Ukraine’s air defences claimed a successful interception rate of nine out of ten Russian drones in various regions of the country during the overnight operations. These areas included the Mykolayiv and Odesa regions, the central region of Zhytomyr, and the western Khmelnytskyi region.
Russia’s intensified strikes on Ukrainian ports and grain infrastructure have been ongoing since July, following Moscow’s decision to pull out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a wartime deal that had provided a vital export route for Ukrainian goods to reach African countries suffering from food shortages.
The air force also disclosed that Russian forces had launched multiple C-300 missiles in an overnight attack in the eastern Donetsk region near the frontline. The extent of the damage resulting from these missile strikes could not be independently confirmed by Reuters at the time of reporting.
According to the air force, the overnight operations resulted in the successful interception and downing of nine out of ten Russian drones over multiple regions of Ukraine. This includes the southern Mykolayiv and Odesa regions, the central Zhytomyr region, and the western Khmelnytskyi region.
Following its withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative in July, Russia has ramped up its attacks on Ukrainian ports and grain infrastructure. Odesa, in particular, has been targeted by Russian strikes, impacting the country’s ability to export goods to African countries facing food shortages.
In a separate attack, Russian forces fired several C-300 missiles in the Donetsk region, near the front line. Reuters was unable to verify the extent of the damage caused by these missile strikes.
With regards to the overnight operations, Ukraine’s air force reported a 90% success rate in intercepting and shooting down Russian drones in various regions of the country. This includes the southern Mykolayiv and Odesa regions, central Zhytomyr, and western Khmelnytskyi.
