Russia launches massive drone assault on Ukraine, preparing new waves of strikes on critical infrastructure – Beskrestnov

Russia has launched a large-scale combined attack on Ukraine using hundreds of Shahed strike drones, employing a new tactic aimed at overwhelming Ukrainian air defenses along the border with Belarus.

The enemy may also continue intensive missile and drone strikes for at least until tomorrow.

The Ukrainian defense minister's advisor, Serhii Beskrestnov ("Flash"), said this on Ukrainian television, according to Ukrinform.

"Unfortunately, a major combined enemy attack on the country has begun. We expected this attack. I can say that the first wave of activity has already taken place, involving a very large number of Shaheds. We have counted several hundred Shahed drones launched against us," he said.

According to Beskrestnov, the drones were launched simultaneously from the south and north, with western regions of Ukraine being the main target.

The advisor noted that Russian forces are continuously improving their drone tactics, studying the effectiveness of Ukrainian electronic warfare systems, and attempting to find routes to bypass air defense systems.

"This attack was unusual: all the Shaheds were moving very densely, at high altitude, close together. There were a huge number of them, and they stayed about 5-10 kilometers from the border of the Republic of Belarus. They all moved along the border very close to Belarus, and this was a new tactic – overloading our air defense," he explained.

Read also: DIU: Russia launches combined attack on critical infrastructure

Beskrestnov added that Ukrainian forces deployed all available reserves to repel the attack, including army aviation, mobile fire groups, interceptor crews, and drone units. At the same time, some drones continued moving toward western regions.

"The Ukrainian Armed Forces indeed deployed all reserves to counter this attack, and we expect the next wave. At night, there will likely be a Shahed strike, but we still do not know the enemy's exact target. It may again be western Ukraine, but a combined strike on central Ukraine is also possible," he said.

He also suggested that Russia could maintain a high intensity of air attacks at least until midday the following day, as it had accumulated a significant stockpile of drones and missiles in advance.

"I believe this may last until tomorrow, until midday. At night, we will see missile launches. Then there may be another wave. We understand that they have accumulated Shahed stockpiles to attack us today and tomorrow," Beskrestnov said.

According to the advisor, the main targets of Russian strikes remain critical infrastructure facilities, including Ukrzaliznytsia infrastructure. Russia is also deploying jet-powered and guided Shahed drones.

"We are also seeing the use of jet-powered Shaheds; there are not many of them, but they are being used. We are also seeing guided Shaheds operating via radio links. These Shaheds are controlled like FPV drones from Russian territory, and the enemy is trying to strike important targets for us," he said.

Illustrative photo: Kyiv Regional Military Administration