During the night of July 17 (from 6:00 p.m. on July 16), Russian forces launched an air attack on Ukraine using one Kh-31P anti-radiation missile from the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea, seven Kh-59/69 guided air-to-surface missiles from occupied Crimea, and 130 Shahed attack drones (including jet-powered variants), as well as Gerbera, Italmas, and Parodiya decoy drones launched from Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Millerovo, and Oryol in Russia, as well as occupied Donetsk and Hvardiiske in occupied Crimea.
The attack was repelled by Ukrainian Air Force aviation, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare and unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian Defence Forces.
According to preliminary data, as of 8:00 a.m., Ukrainian air defence had shot down or electronically suppressed five Kh-59/69 guided missiles and 115 Russian Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas, and other types of drones over northern, southern, and eastern Ukraine.
Two missiles and eight attack drones struck targets at seven locations, while debris from intercepted targets fell at five locations. The Kh-31P anti-radiation missile also failed to reach its intended target.
