Update (1253 EST): The Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs has increased the death toll to 30 killed and 160 injured.
As this publication reported last night, three waves of Russian airstrikes struck across Ukraine. After 0300 EST, a fourth smaller wave struck in Sumy, Odessa, and Cherkasy Oblasts. The last missile finally impacted around 0800 EST and a final all-clear was given. As of 1100 EST, the Ukrainian government has tallied the total number of munitions and casualties.
According to the Ukrainian Ministry for Internal Affairs, 158 drones and missiles were fired into Ukraine and Ukrainian air defenses shot down 27 drones and 87 missiles. The complete tally from the Ukrainians reads below:
”Tonight, the enemy launched a massive missile attack on Ukraine. Critical infrastructure facilities, industrial and military facilities were attacked.
Unfortunately, there are dead and injured.
At first, the occupiers traditionally attacked with “shaheds” from the north and south-east direction, with further movement in the west direction. A total of 36 “Shahed-136/131” attack UAVs were registered.
Around 3:00 a.m., the enemy launched strategic aircraft into the air – Tu-95MS bombers. A total of 18 aircraft, which entered the launch line around 6:00 a.m. and launched at least 90 Kh-101/Kh-555/Kh-55 air-based cruise missiles.
From the Kursk region around 05:00, the enemy used Tu-22M3 long-range bombers, which fired eight Kh-22/Kh-32 cruise missiles in the direction of the northern and central regions.
At the same time, the invaders hit Kharkiv with S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles. In total, the enemy launched at least 14 ballistic missiles – S-300/S-400/Iskander-M from the occupied Crimea, Kursk and Belgorod regions of the Russian Federation.
At 6:30 a.m., the takeoff of five MiG-31K fighters was recorded, which launched five Kh-47M2 “Kinjal” aeroballistic missiles from the Astrakhan region.
Also, 4 Kh-31P anti-radar missiles and one Kh-59 were used from Su-35 tactical aircraft.
According to preliminary results, this night the enemy used 158 means of air attack against Ukraine: missiles of various types and air defense systems.
The forces and means of the Air Force, in cooperation with units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, destroyed:
– 27 attack UAVs “Shahed-136/131”
– 87 Kh-101/Kh-555/Kh-55 cruise missiles.”
The Ukrainian Armed Forces claim that 12 civilians were killed and 70 were injured across the country. The power grid is reportedly stable with localized outages appoint some customers.
For context, on February 22nd, 2022, the Russian Federation launched 100 missiles and no loitering munitions into Ukraine to knock out the integrated air defense systems on the first day of the invasion. This air attack was 50% larger than the first salvo and targeted civilian infrastructure, demonstrating the change in nature of the war from a swift “special military operation”, to a bloody war of attrition. It also demonstrates the Ukrainian people’s increased resiliency and ability to shelter from a significant air attack, as opposed to initial civilian death tolls in comparable strikes.
