During the night attack on Ukraine on February 25, Russia launched not only UAVs but also missiles to destroy Ukrainian air defense systems in the south, said Natalia Humenyuk, the head of the Joint Press Center of the Operational Command "South," during a telethon broadcast.

"The night was tense, with air alarm signals. The nocturnal activity was associated with both missile attacks and drones," she said.

Humenyuk emphasized that initially, the Russians attempted to destroy Ukrainian air defense systems using tactical aviation from the Black Sea waters. The Russian forces launched X-31P missiles. However, the missiles were shot down over the sea.

The spokesperson explained that then Russia started attacking UAVs, which "had branching both in direction and time."

According to Humenyuk, the first attack, lasting one and a half hours, occurred towards Mykolaiv region, followed by another attack directed towards the central regions of Ukraine with a transition to the western regions of the country.

"Both the first and second waves were effectively countered by the Air Defense Forces of the south," she noted.

Humenyuk reported that one drone was destroyed over Kherson region upon entering the responsibility zone of the Operational Command "South," three over Mykolaiv region, and two more over Kirovohrad region.

"We responded effectively and prevented any hits," emphasized the spokesperson.