Since the night of April 3, the Russian Federation has significantly intensified air attacks on Ukrainian territory. According to the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, over 400 Russian drones of various types have been detected in the country’s airspace. This was reported by the head of the communications department, Yuriy Ihnat, during a telethon.
This is reported by Finway
Scale of Air Threats and New Enemy Tactics
Ihnat noted that Russia has also deployed strategic bombers and carried out at least 10 strikes with ballistic missiles on frontline regions, including Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv oblasts. He emphasized that the attack is ongoing, and the number of drones is constantly increasing: “As of 7:00 AM today, about 240 drones had been detected, and now we have updated figures – over 400, and there is information that possibly other launches will be conducted from different directions,” Ihnat said.
The enemy is actively using new routes and tactics, complicating the work of air defense. According to Ihnat, the situation mirrors the large-scale attacks of previous weeks when Russia deployed up to a thousand strike UAVs of various types within a day, as well as carried out massive missile strikes.
Humanitarian Consequences of the Attacks and International Reaction
Air alerts have been declared in most regions of Ukraine, and the Air Forces are warning about the movement of drones and missiles. Russian troops systematically attack Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure using various types of weapons – strike drones, missiles, guided bombs, and multiple launch rocket systems.
“Today, the enemy launched 10 strikes with ballistic missiles on frontline regions – namely Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv oblasts, with confirmed hits. We are not providing information yet, as the attack is ongoing with a significant number of drones in the sky, in the central part of our state – Kirovohrad, Vinnytsia oblast, Cherkasy, and a large group of UAVs is also moving south from Sumy oblast. As of 7:00 AM today, about 240 drones had been detected, and now we have updated figures – over 400, and there is information that possibly other launches will be conducted from different directions,” Ihnat said.
The Ukrainian authorities and international organizations regard these shellings as war crimes, emphasizing their deliberate nature. Particular concern is raised by strikes on critical infrastructure and healthcare facilities, leading to a lack of electricity, heating, water supply, communication, and medical assistance for the civilian population.
Experts in international law, genocide researchers, and human rights defenders emphasize that such actions exhibit genocidal characteristics, particularly regarding the intent to destroy Ukrainians as an ethnic group, public calls from the Russian side, and the deportation of children. Such crimes fall under the definition of genocide as established by the 1948 UN Convention, which obliges member states to prevent genocide and hold perpetrators accountable.
Meanwhile, the leadership of Russia denies accusations of targeted attacks on civilian infrastructure, the deaths of civilians, and the destruction of medical and educational institutions, as well as energy facilities in Ukraine.