In a significant blow to Russian military efforts, Ukrainian defences successfully intercepted and destroyed 19 out of 21 Shahed-131/136 drones launched by Russian forces during the night of June 18-19.

The thwarted drone assault resulted in the loss of 1,130 Russian soldiers, marking a substantial defeat for President Putin’s forces.

Ukraine‘s Air Force reported on Telegram that the drones were downed across several regions, including Kherson, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Khmelnytskyi, and Lviv oblasts.

“As a result of combat efforts, 19 enemy Shahed attack UAVs were shot down in Kherson, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Khmelnytskyi and Lviv oblasts,” the Air Force said.

The drones were launched from Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia and Cape Chauda in occupied Crimea.

Ukrainian fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups played crucial roles in repelling the attack.

During the night, one drone managed to reach Lviv Oblast, prompting Ukrainian air defence to respond.

Lviv Mayor Andrii Sadovyi confirmed a strike in Malekhiv, where a 70-year-old security guard was injured.

Another explosion in Malekhiv followed as air defences were engaged for a second time. Regional Governor Maksym Kozytskyi noted that five drones were shot down over Lviv Oblast.

The broader conflict continues to inflict severe losses on Russian forces. Over the past day alone, 1,130 Russian soldiers were reported killed or wounded, alongside significant losses of military equipment.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine shared on Facebook that since the beginning of the war on February 24, 2022, Russia has suffered considerable casualties, including 529,750 military personnel, 7,984 tanks, 15,319 armoured combat vehicles, and 11,221 UAVs, among other equipment.