The Ukrainian Air Force Command reported that Russia attacked the country early this morning with 6 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, 7 Kh-101 and Iskander-K cruise missiles, and 728 Geran-2 suicide drones and decoy aircraft.
"The main target of the attack was Lutsk, the capital of the Volyn province. Ukrainian air defense units shot down all 7 Kh-101 and Iskander-K missiles and 296 suicide drones, while 415 aircraft were lost due to electronic countermeasures," the agency said.
The Ukrainian Air Force did not mention the 6 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, but acknowledged that 4 areas were hit and debris fell in 14 locations.
Kyiv Independent reported that the capital, Kyiv, was rocked by explosions around midnight. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced that Russian drones targeted the city center and air defenses were activated in response.
Several explosions occurred in Lutsk in the early morning as well as in areas near the front lines, such as Sumy province, Dnipropetrovsk province and the Ukrainian-controlled territory in Zaporizhzhia province. At least one person was injured in Brovary in Kyiv province.
AMK Mapping, an X account that tracks open-source intelligence data on the war and supports Ukraine, assessed that Russia launched 7 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles and 5 Kh-101 cruise missiles. Lutsk and the surrounding area were hit by all the Kinzhal missiles and three Kh-101s, while the remaining two Kh-101s struck the Ozerne air base in Zhytomyr province.
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Russian attacks including drones (yellow), Kinzhal (blue) and cruise missiles targeting Ukraine early on 9/7. Image: X/KyivInsider |
"None of the missiles were intercepted, and the Kh-101s were not detected like last time. The reason is that Russia is firing from a new, more easterly position, closer to Nizhny Novgorod province," the account said.
Satellite data on NASA's Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) on the same day showed a large fire at the Ozerne base and nearby warehouses.
"A massive secondary explosion occurred after the air raid alert was lifted in Zhytomyr province. Among the areas on fire were the aircraft parking area and some of the base's infrastructure. A very large heat signature was recorded, despite heavy rain and thick clouds covering the airport," AMK Mapping said.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has not commented on the information.
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Fire at Ozerne air base early on 9/7 according to FIRMS data. Graphic: NASA |
Russia has recently conducted several large-scale combined missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, at a time when the latter is facing a severe shortage of air defense missiles, especially interceptors for the Patriot system, after the US suspended military aid.
President Donald Trump announced on 7/7 that Washington would resume aid and transfer more defensive weapons to Kyiv, but did not specify the timing or specific types. Axios later reported that Trump promised to "immediately transfer 10 Patriot interceptors" to Ukraine and help the country find sources of weapons.
Pham Giang (Kyiv Independent, Axios, AFP)
