Russia targeted the regions of Kyiv, Khmelnytskiy and Kirovohrad in a second missile strike on Ukraine on Wednesday,and its air force chief said the barrage had been repelled.
Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk, writing on Telegram, said anti-aircraft units had downed 36 targets – three Kalibr cruise missiles and 33 Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles.
A later statement indicated that information was still being collated on Kindzhal missiles also used in the attack.
“The day turned out to be difficult, but thanks to the harmonious work of all those defending the skies, we repelled this attack! Thanks to everyone!” Oleshchuk wrote.
It was not immediately clear if there was any damage. Authorities in the western Khmelnytskiy region confirmed the sound of explosions.
The weapons used in the raid
“We have registered high-speed targets, probably also ballistic missiles, the enemy is using different weapons types,” air force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat said in televised comments.
He said some missiles had traveled towards the city of Starokostiantyniv which is the location of a Ukrainian military airfield. He said the missiles had taken a highly convoluted route, even making a 180 degree turn at one point.
Ukrainian air defenses thwarted an earlier attack on Wednesday afternoon, shooting down two Kalibr cruise missiles over the central city of Vinnytsia that appeared to have been fired by a submarine in the Black Sea, the air force said.
Visitors look at a Soviet-era SS-18 SATAN intercontinental ballistic missile at the Strategic Missile Forces museum near Pervomaysk, some 300 km (186 miles) south of Kyiv, August 22, 2011 (credit: REUTERS/GLEB GARANICH)
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