On the night of April 1, the Russian Federation carried out one of the largest drone attacks on the territory of Ukraine. The Armed Forces of Russia launched 339 drones of various types, as reported by the Air Forces of Ukraine. The air defense managed to neutralize 298 drones, achieving an effectiveness rate of 88%. However, some enemy devices reached their targets, causing explosions in 11 populated areas, including Lutsk, Khmelnytskyi, Poltava, and other regions of central and western Ukraine.
This is reported by Finway
Details of the Night Attack and Air Defense Results
According to the Air Force Command, of the 339 enemy drones, 200 were strike “Shaheds.” The launches were carried out from five ranges on the territory of Russia (Bryansk, Kursk, Orel, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk), as well as from two points in the occupied territories – from the Donetsk region and Crimea. As of 8:30 AM, the UAV attack was still ongoing.
“According to the Air Command data, the results of air defense operations on the night of April 1 are ‘minus’ 298 UAVs out of 339 launched [air defense effectiveness 88% — ed.]. It is noted that various means were involved in neutralizing enemy devices — from aviation, air defense systems, and electronic warfare to fire groups and anti-aircraft drones.”
Consequences of the Shelling in Regions of Ukraine
The State Emergency Service of Ukraine confirmed drone strikes in Khmelnytskyi and Lutsk. In Khmelnytskyi, a fire broke out at an industrial enterprise due to a strike from a Russian drone. A total of 51 rescuers and 9 units of special equipment were on site. The fire was extinguished, and photos from the scene showed debris from metal structures and the work of firefighters.
In Lutsk, the strikes hit, among other places, the upper floor of an apartment building, causing a fire that rescuers extinguished within a few hours.
Lutsk and Volyn Region. The mayor of Lutsk, Ihor Polishchuk, reported damage to a “Nova Poshta” warehouse and a grocery network warehouse. As a result of the attack, a large fire broke out, but no information about casualties has been received. The “Nova Poshta” company also confirmed the strike on its warehouse and assured that all employees had timely taken shelter, and lost client cargo would be compensated. A cloud of smoke formed over the city due to the fire at the warehouses.
The head of the Volyn Regional State Administration, Roman Romaniuk, noted that one of the enterprises in Lutsk was directly hit, while debris from a drone fell in another location. No information about casualties has been reported.
Khmelnytskyi Region. The head of the Khmelnytskyi Regional State Administration, Serhii Tiurin, stated that air defense forces were active in the region, and an industrial enterprise in the regional center was hit. There are no casualties.
Poltava Region. According to the head of the Poltava Regional State Administration, Vitalii Diakivnych, in the morning, a drone fell on the territory of an enterprise in the Myrhorod district, damaging a fence and windows, with no injuries reported.
Zhytomyr Region. The head of the Regional State Administration, Vitalii Bunechko, confirmed that the region was attacked by Russian drones and thanked the defense forces for their effective repulsion. No details regarding the destruction have been provided.
Ivano-Frankivsk Region. In Ivano-Frankivsk, explosions were heard on the morning of April 1, but the mayor, Ruslan Martsinkiv, clarified that these were planned exercises.
During the previous drone attack on the night of March 31, Russia also launched 289 UAVs, all of which were destroyed by Ukrainian air defense. At that time, hits were recorded in residential buildings in Odesa and Kyiv regions.
It is worth noting that on March 30, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov reported the first use of a private air defense group, which destroyed a Russian “Shahed” in the east of the country.