Ukraine Air Defense Weakening Against Drones
Russian forces launched a wave of missile and drone attacks on Ukraine overnight to February 21.
The Air Force of the Rostov region reported the use of a mix of missiles and 19 Shahed attack drones launched from various locations within Russia.
Ukrainian defence efforts successfully destroyed some of the incoming missiles and 13 out of 19 Shahed drones within the Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk regions. Defence forces employed anti-aircraft missile units, mobile fire groups, and electronic warfare equipment to counter the attack.
Natalia Humenyuk, head of the press centre of the South Operational Command, warned that Russia might be preparing for another large-scale assault on Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Air Force reports Russia's ongoing modernization and increased production of attack drones. They believe Western sanctions could hinder these efforts.
Experts note a recent decline in Ukrainian air defence effectiveness, with the percentage of Shaheds destroyed decreasing by 33% in recent weeks.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
