On the night of July 28, Ukraine's air defenders repelled a large-scale combined assault, with the city of Starokostiantyniv being the primary focus of the attack. The operation involved the rapid response of the Air Defense Forces to neutralize a significant number of aerial threats launched from Russian territory. In total, 331 aerial assets were used in the attack, comprising a mix of drones, cruise missiles, and hypersonic missiles designed to saturate and overwhelm defensive systems. The successful interception of the vast majority of these threats demonstrates a high level of operational readiness and effectiveness.
The enemy deployed a complex and multi-layered air attack, launching assets from various locations. The assault included 324 unmanned aerial vehicles, primarily of the Shahed type, which were launched from Russian territory. In addition to the drones, the attack featured four Kh-101 cruise missiles fired from the Saratov region and three Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles launched from the Lipetsk region. This combination of slow-moving drones and high-speed missiles represents a tactical effort to challenge and penetrate Ukrainian air defense networks through diverse attack vectors and speeds.
The results of the defensive operation were substantial. The Air Defense Forces successfully shot down or suppressed a total of 311 aerial targets. This figure includes the destruction of 309 enemy drones and the interception of two cruise missiles of the Kh-101 type. Furthermore, the report indicates that the three Kinzhal missiles launched during the assault did not reach their intended targets, having been effectively countered. The term "suppressed" refers to the use of electronic warfare to disrupt the guidance systems of drones, causing them to deviate from their flight path or crash without detonation.
Despite the high interception rate of over 90%, some munitions did get through the defensive shield. Hits were recorded in three separate locations, and additional damage was caused by falling debris from intercepted targets. The main objective of the attack, Starokostiantyniv, was heavily targeted. Authorities have confirmed that the situation remains under control, and emergency services are addressing the consequences of the impacts and debris. The nature of the damage underscores the danger posed even by successfully intercepted cruise missiles and Kh-101 munitions, as their remnants can still cause significant harm upon impact with the ground.
This massive air attack highlights the ongoing threat from combined arms aerial assaults. The use of a large volume of Shahed drones in conjunction with advanced missiles is a strategy aimed at exhausting ammunition supplies and identifying vulnerabilities in the air defense grid. The successful neutralization of 311 out of 331 incoming threats, including highly capable weapon systems like the Kinzhal, speaks to the resilience and adaptability of Ukraine's defenders in protecting its airspace and civilian centers from such intensive and coordinated strikes.
