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Russia launched a massive drone attack on Ukraine overnight on January 18, deploying 201 strike UAVs from multiple directions. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 167 of them.
According to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the attack lasted from 6:30 p.m. on January 17 until the morning of January 18. Russia used Shahed drones, “Gerbera” UAVs, and other types, launched from Kursk, Oryol, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, Chauda in temporarily occupied Crimea, and Donetsk in occupied territory. About 120 of the drones were Shaheds.
The air assault was repelled by aircraft, surface-to-air missile units, electronic warfare teams, drone units, and mobile fire groups. As of 8:00 a.m., air defenses had shot down or suppressed 167 enemy drones.
Authorities recorded impacts by 30 strike drones at 15 locations, as well as debris from downed UAVs at two sites. The Air Force warned that the attack was ongoing and urged civilians to follow safety rules.
The drone strikes caused casualties and damage across several regions. In Khmelnytskyi region, a fire broke out at an industrial facility. In Kherson region, two people were killed. In Kharkiv, a drone hit a private house, killing one person. Zaporizhzhia was also attacked by groups of drones, triggering a fire in a residential area.
