Ukrainian air defense forces shot down 16 Iranian-made Shahed drones overnight from Thursday to Friday, according to the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Air Force Command.
The attacks come just one day after Russia launched one of the most powerful missile barrages against Ukraine since the conflict began.
Drones are flying around “Ukraine was attacked from the southeastern and northern directions. The enemy attempted to use the Dnipro riverbed to circumvent Ukraine’s air defense system, according to a statement from the Air Force Command.
“All 16 kamikaze drones were destroyed by forces and equipment from the “Skhid” (East) and “Center” air commands, as well as air defense units from other Ukrainian Defense Forces units.”
Five drones were shot down over Kyiv in the early hours of Friday, according to the city’s military administration in a Telegram post.
In a Telegram post, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko added that two more drones were shot down outside the city, bringing the total number of drones shot down over the Kyiv region to seven.