From 18:00 on March 23 to 18:00 on March 24, Russian forces launched the largest drone strike on Ukrainian territory since the beginning of the full-scale war. The total number of enemy drones used amounted to 948 units, including Shahed-136/BM-35 “Italmas” and decoy drones of the “Gerbera” and “Parody” types. Air defense forces shot down 906 devices — about 95% of the number of drones launched.
This is reported by Finway
Details of the Massive Attack and Records
According to available information, during the combined strike, around 250 Shahed-136/BM-35 “Italmas” drones were launched by 9:00. The proportion of kamikaze drones used from 9:00 to 18:00 is still being clarified. The previous record for massive drone usage was recorded on September 7, 2025 — at that time, Russia used 810 devices.
“In total, the enemy used 948 Shahed-136/BM-35 ‘Italmas’ and ‘Gerbera’/’Parody’ decoys, of which 906 were shot down, or approximately 95% of the total number of drones used by the enemy.”
Reasons for the Attack and Future Predictions
Experts note that the power of this attack was made possible by Russia’s accumulation of drone stocks following a previous massive raid that took place on March 14. During this period, the occupiers could have gathered at least 850 combined-type drones. In the first half of March, a low intensity of attacks was recorded — on some days, the number of drones did not exceed 100 per day.
An important factor remains the attempt to divert attention from the unsuccessful start of the Russian army’s spring-summer offensive, which is accompanied by significant losses with minimal advancement on the front.
It is expected that in the final reviews for the month, analysts will closely examine the dynamics and consequences of the drone attacks. At the same time, specialists emphasize: such large-scale strikes should not be expected every night — Russia needs time to replenish its drone stocks and prepare for new attacks.
In some cities, particularly in Lviv, residential buildings and transport have been damaged as a result of the strike, and there are dozens of injured.
The operational work of the Air Defense units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was decisive in repelling this unprecedented attack. Over the course of the day, Ukrainian defenders demonstrated high effectiveness in air defense.