Air Force: Russia launches over 700 drones at Ukraine over 24 hours, 643 neutralized
Over a 24-hour period, Russian forces used over 700 attack drones against Ukraine, with 643 of them shot down or suppressed, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) said.
"After the drone strike overnight into April 1, Russia carried out repeated UAV attacks. During the daytime period from 08:00 to 18:00, Ukraine was attacked by more than 360 enemy strike UAVs, around 250 of them Shaheds. Taking into account the overnight attack from 18:00 on March 31 to 18:00 on April 1, 2026, over a 24-hour period, the enemy used more than 700 Shahed, Gerbera and other types of strike drones. In particular, according to preliminary data, from 08:00 to 18:00 on April 1, the enemy used 361 strike UAVs," the Air Force said on Telegram.
According to the military, during the day the overwhelming majority of the drones entered from the southeastern direction and headed westward.
As a result of the Russian terrorist attack, 14 impacts were recorded, with people killed and injured.
According to preliminary data, as of 18:00, air defenses had shot down or suppressed 345 enemy UAVs during the daytime wave.
All available air defense assets were involved in repelling the air attack, including manned aircraft, anti-aircraft drones, electronic warfare systems and ground-based air defenses.
The Air Force said the effectiveness of air defense against UAVs stood at 91.86%.
It also warned that several enemy UAVs were still in Ukrainian airspace.
Russia has thus returned to the tactic of a "round-the-clock" air assault, first used on March 24, when the occupiers launched a record 948 drones at Ukraine in a single day, 906 of which were shot down or suppressed. The difference this time was the absence of a missile component in Wednesday's attack.
