Russian forces launched a drone attack against Ukraine overnight on 18 March, targeting infrastructure objects across multiple regions and causing power and water outages in several communities.
On the evening of 17 March, Russia struck infrastructure facilities in Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, causing significant damage, according to Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration head Serhiy Lysak and Zaporizhzhia OVA head Ivan Fedorov.
A drone attack damaged an infrastructure object in the Dnipro district, resulting in what Lysak described as a major fire. Lysak later clarified that the drone attack caused fires at two enterprises. The fires have been extinguished, and no one was injured.
In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a Russian attack damaged a critical infrastructure facility in one of the frontline communities, Fedorov said. As a result, more than 3,000 subscribers lost electricity, and three villages were left without water.
Around 01:30, explosions were heard in Cherkasy, according to Suspilne.
Ukrainian air defenses counter massive drone assault
The Ukrainian Air Force reports that Russia attacked Ukraine with 137 Shahed strike UAVs and various types of decoy drones from 19:00 on 17 March. The drones were launched from Shatalovo, Kursk, Millerovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia.
The air attack was repelled by anti-aircraft missile forces, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups of the Air Force and Defense Forces of Ukraine.
As of 09:00, the Air Force confirmed shooting down 63 Shahed strike UAVs and other types of drones in Kharkiv, Poltava, Sumy, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, and Kherson oblasts. Additionally, 64 enemy decoy drones were lost on radar without negative consequences.
The Air Force’s data suggest that at least 10 Russian drones may have reached their intended targets.
As a result of the Russian attack, Kharkiv, Sumy, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, and Cherkasy oblasts suffered damage, according to the report.
Related:
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- Hospital in Kharkiv Oblast attacked by Russian drones overnight
- Dnipropetrovsk Oblast railway power facilities targeted by Russian drones, other attacks kill at least four civilians
- Ukraine confirms first Russian jet downed by Italian-French SAMP/T system
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- Russia drones target meat plant in Kharkiv’s Bohodukhiv, killing three
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