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Ukraine Says Air Defences Shot Down 138 of 161 Drones in Overnight Russian S8000 Swarm

The scale of the attack underscores Russia’s continued use of mass drone strikes to damage civilian systems, fueling war‑crime and genocide allegations.

Overview

  • Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russian forces launched an S8000 “Бандероль” system accompanied by 161 strike drones and that air defences had shot down or suppressed 138 of them by 08:00.
  • The military recorded impacts at 19 locations and falling debris at three sites, and it warned the attack was still ongoing as morning assessments continued.
  • Reported drone types included Shahed and «Гербера» models, showing a mix of long‑range and smaller strike UAVs used to overwhelm defences.
  • Ukrainian officials and international rights groups say such strikes deliberately target civilian infrastructure and qualify as war crimes, with some experts saying the pattern may meet elements of genocide; Russian authorities deny intent to hit civilians.
  • The assault follows a sustained campaign of raids on energy, health and other life‑support systems and could increase strain on air‑defence resources and on emergency services that repair damage and care for the wounded.