Ukraine’s air defenses downed dozens of attacking Russian cruise missiles and kamikaze drones overnight on Aug. 5-6 as Russia launched several waves of weapons in a furious overnight air assault on the country.
In total, the Russians launched 70 weapons, including cruise, aeroballistic and ballistic missiles, and Iranian-made Shahed kamikaze drones, the Ukrainian Air Force reported.
The Russian military launched air- and sea-based missiles from warships and submarines in the Black Sea, strategic bombers, and drone-launching bases in southern Russia and to the north of Ukraine.In the first wave of the attack on the evening of August 5, the enemy launched 14 Kalibr sea-based cruise missiles and three Kh-47 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles. Twelve out of 14 Calibers were destroyed by anti-aircraft defenses.
The Ukrainian Air Force does not release information about Kinzhal missiles, which are notoriously difficult for Ukrainian air defenses to intercept due to their high speed and ability to maneuver during their attack phase.
After midnight, the enemy continued its attack by launching a wave of Shahed-136/131 strike drones from the southeast, another salvo of Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea area, and a swarm of Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles from Tu-95MS strategic bombers flying over the Caspian Sea.
Air defense forces destroyed all 27 Shaheds, five out of six Kalibr missiles of the second wave, and 13 out of 20 Kh-101/Kh555 air-based cruise missiles.
In its morning report, the Ukrainian Air Force said that anti-aircraft defenses destroyed:
- 13 Kalibr cruise missiles
- 17 Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles
- 27 Shahed-136/131 attack UAVs
According to the figures given by the Ukrainian air force, three Kalibr cruise missiles, seven Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles and possibly three Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles were launched at Ukraine by Russia but were not shot down.
Overnight there were reports of explosions in Khmelnytsky Oblast, where there is a large Ukrainian air base.
Khmelnytsky Oblast also appeared to have been the focus of an earlier Russian air raid during the day on Aug. 5.