Occupiers targeted Ukraine with ballistic missiles and drones. Here’s how the air defense responded.

On the night of December 5, Russian forces launched ballistic missiles at the Dnipropetrovsk region and deployed over 40 drones across Ukraine. The air defense systems intercepted the majority of the drones that were launched.

This was reported by RBK-Ukraine citing Telegram from the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Thus, on the night of December 5, the enemy struck the Dnipropetrovsk region with two "Iskander-M" ballistic missiles from the Rostov region.

"They also attacked Ukraine with 44 strike drones of the 'Shahed' type and other types of drones from launch areas in Orel and Kursk," the statement said.

Air Defense Operations

As of 08:30, the air defense units, electronic warfare, and mobile fire groups of the Air Forces and Defense Forces of Ukraine have shot down 30 enemy drones in the Kyiv, Kharkiv, Poltava, Sumy, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Khmelnytskyi, and Odesa regions.

"12 drones were lost locally, and one more exited controlled airspace towards Belarus," the Air Forces added.

Air Defense in Ukraine During Russian Attacks

Russian troops are continuously shelling Ukraine. Moreover, the occupiers frequently utilize both drones and missiles. Ukraine's air defense has successfully learned to handle Russian drones, but the situation with ballistic missiles is more challenging.

At the same time, Russian invaders resort to various tactics, hoping to exhaust Ukraine's air defense. For instance, the occupiers launch decoy drones across Ukraine or make every effort to conduct round-the-clock drone attacks on Ukraine.

Recently, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha stated that Ukraine urgently needs at least 20 air defense systems. This refers to systems such as Hawks, NASAMS, or IRIS-T. According to the minister, this would help prevent blackouts caused by Russian shelling.