Published: · Region: Eastern Europe · Category: conflict

Ukraine’s Air Defenses Face Mass Drone Barrages as Russia and Kyiv Trade Overnight Strikes

Ukraine says it shot down or suppressed 106 of 128 Russian drones overnight, even as strikes hit at least 14 locations and Russian jet‑powered Geran drones ignited large fires in Sumy City and damaged areas of Kharkiv Oblast. Moscow, for its part, reports downing more than 200 Ukrainian drones over its own territory and says a separate strike killed six civilians in Belgorod region — a snapshot of a war increasingly fought through dense, overnight drone barrages.

The war between Russia and Ukraine is turning darker and more automated, with night skies over both countries now crowded by swarms of drones. In the overnight hours leading into August 17, Ukrainian and Russian authorities each reported large‑scale drone attacks and interceptions, underscoring how uncrewed systems have become central to daily combat and civilian risk. Ukraine’s military said its air defenses shot down or electronically suppressed 106 out of 128 Russian drones launched in a single night. According to Kyiv, the attack package included Iranian‑designed Shahed loitering munitions, a jet‑powered variant of the Shahed, as well as Gerbera and Parodiya decoy systems used to probe or saturate defenses. Despite…

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