In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict, Russia launched a massive air attack on Ukraine during the night of September 12, 2024, employing a combination of drones and missiles. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that their air defense systems successfully intercepted 44 out of 64 Shahed drones, while most missiles reportedly missed their intended targets.The attack targeted multiple regions across Ukraine, including Kyiv, Kherson, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhzhia, and Poltava. Ukraine’s air defense forces, comprising aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, mobile fire groups, and electronic warfare units, worked tirelessly to repel the attack.The city of Konotop in Sumy Oblast bore the brunt of the assault, suffering significant damage to its energy infrastructure and reporting multiple injuries. Artem Semenihin, the mayor of Konotop, described the situation with electricity supply as ‘critical’ and noted disruptions in water supply. The attack damaged seven multi-apartment buildings, a private residence, medical and educational institutions, vehicles, and other civilian infrastructure.In a separate development, Russia reported shooting down five Ukrainian drones over its own territory, specifically in the Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk regions. This incident highlights the ongoing cross-border nature of the conflict.The Ukrainian Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into the attack under Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which deals with violations of the laws and customs of war. As the conflict continues to escalate, both sides report ongoing military activities and casualties, with the humanitarian impact on affected regions growing increasingly severe.
Key points
- Russia launched a large-scale air attack on Ukraine using 64 Shahed drones and multiple missiles.
- Ukrainian air defense systems successfully intercepted 44 out of 64 Shahed drones.
- The city of Konotop in Sumy Oblast suffered significant damage to energy infrastructure and reported multiple injuries.
- Russia reported shooting down five Ukrainian drones over its own territory.
Contradictions👾While most sources report 44 drones shot down by Ukrainian forces, one source mentions ‘over 10 drones shot down and 97 drones disabled by Ukrainian radar,’ which differs significantly from other reports.
