Russia’s overnight attacks on multiple Ukrainian cities employed swarm tactics to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses.
Russian forces conducted drone strikes overnight on the Ukrainian cities of Odesa and Kharkiv. In Odesa, one civilian was killed while 14 were injured. The strikes hit residential buildings, a university, a base pipeline, private cars, and disrupted railway infrastructure. Russia’s attack on Kharkiv, which occurred concurrently with the attack in Odesa, involved drones that impacted multiple residential areas, injuring several people while damaging private and multi-story homes.
What Did Russia Hit with Its Drones?
Russia launched approximately 86 Shahed drones overnight at the port city of Odesa. Ukraine’s air defense systems shot down 34 of the drones. Kyiv was able to jam another 36 drones with electronic warfare measures. However, the remaining eight drones passed through Ukrainian air defenses and hit their intended targets.
One civilian was killed, while another 14 were injured, including young girls aged 12 to 17. The attack inflicted major damage upon residential high-rises, a university, and a gas pipeline.
The railway station was also attacked, resulting in its power lines and tracks suffering damage. Moreover, fires broke out in multiple buildings, with parts of a four-story residential block partially collapsing. One 23-story tower, with 600 residents, was also evacuated.
The Kharkiv attack was less ambitious than the attack in Odesa. An unknown number of Russian drones successfully penetrated the city’s airspace. While Ukraine’s air defenses intercepted many of the drones, several of them were able to penetrate through. At least four civilians were injured in the attack, including children, and private homes and multi-story apartment buildings were damaged.
Why Is Russia Pursuing Its Current Drone Strategy?
Russia’s overnight drone attacks are consistent with a recent surge in drone warfare. Both Russia and Ukraine have been increasingly dependent upon drones to attack targets deep within enemy territory, often relying on swarm tactics to overwhelm air defenses and deplete interceptors.
By utilizing a swarm drone strategy, Russia is attempting to exhaust Western-supplied air defense interceptors. While each Russian drone is relatively cheap, the interceptors used to shoot them down cost nearly half a million dollars per unit. Moreover, the increase in Russian decoys reflects evolving Russian tactics aimed at confusing Ukrainian air defense systems.
The uptick in drone attacks has placed an increased burden on civilian populations impacted by the war. Odesa in particular has suffered from repeated attacks, which degraded the city’s port and urban infrastructure. Other urban centers were also affected by the conflict.
Russia’s repeated targeting of civilians is deeply alarming. The drone strikes have targeted civilian areas, emergency responders, and basic infrastructure. The United Nations and Human Rights Watch have classified drone attacks against civilians as potential war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Russia’s increased drone attacks on Ukraine have prompted several significant questions. Can Ukrainian air defenses hold up, or will the lack of interceptor stock hinder their performance? Will Odesa’s civil infrastructure be able to withstand the onslaught, or will it crumble under the weight of Russian attacks? Most importantly, could Russia’s targeting of civilians prompt meaningful diplomatic or military repercussions from the international community, especially as calls for war crime accountability continue to rise? The answer to the aforementioned questions will determine whether Moscow will continue with its current drone strategy or shift course.
About the Author: Harrison Kass
Harrison Kass is a senior defense and national security writer with over 1,000 total pieces on issues involving global affairs. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.
Image: Shutterstock / Anelo.
