For the first time since April 3, Russian forces have used strategic aviation to strike Ukraine with cruise missiles.
The launches are reported by monitoring channels, including monitor, as well as the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The attack was carried out during the day, differing from the usual tactic of conducting large-scale strikes at night.
Four Tu-95MS aircraft took off from the Olenya airfield toward launch ranges in the Caspian region. After completing the mission, the aircraft relocated to the Dyagilevo air base in the Ryazan region.
The first seven groups of cruise missiles were detected in Ukrainian airspace at 19:56. The aerial targets passed near Kryvyi Rih and continued toward the Kirovohrad region.
Russia used Kh-101 missiles in the attack, likely Kalibr missiles from sea-based carriers or a combination of both, launched at approximately 17:30.
As of 20:28, groups of cruise missiles were moving toward toward the Borodyanka and Fastiv areas in the Kyiv region.
Throughout the day, Russia has also been continuously launching Shahed and Gerbera kamikaze drones over Ukraine, with numbers potentially exceeding 1,000 per day.
On the night of April 3, Russian forces carried out a large combined strike on critical infrastructure in Ukraine.
Radiolocation units recorded a total of 579 aerial attack assets, including Iskander-M ballistic missiles, Kh-101 and Iskander-K cruise missiles.
The attack also involved 542 Shahed, Gerbera, and Italmas drones launched from Russian territory and occupied Crimea.
Air defense units shot down or suppressed 541 aerial targets: 26 missiles and 515 drones.
