Ballistic missiles weren't stopped: Russia struck Ukraine with ballistic missiles and hundreds of drones

During another combined attack April 3 2026, Russian forces simultaneously employed ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as a large number of strike drones.

Used by the enemy

• 10 ballistic missiles “Iskander-M”
• 25 cruise missiles Kh-101
• 2 cruise missiles “Iskander-K”
• 542 enemy UAVs of various types, including more than 330 “Shahed”

Shot down / suppressed by air defense forces

• 24 cruise missiles Kh-101
• 2 cruise missiles “Iskander-K”
• 515 enemy UAVs of various types
• Total: 541 aerial targets

Not intercepted

• The ballistic missiles “Iskander-M” of this attack could not be intercepted.

Consequences

• 11 missiles and 27 strike UAVs at 20 locations.
• The fall of debris from shot-down targets was recorded at an additional 22 locations.

At the same time, the ballistic missiles that night could not be intercepted. The head of the Communications Department of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Yurii Ihnat, on the air of Novyny.LIVE, explained that Ukraine critically needs interceptor missiles for Patriot systems to deal with such targets, and partners are constantly informed about this need. He also pointed out that deliveries may be affected by the overall international security situation, in particular in the Middle East.

According to Ihnat, it was fighter aviation, primarily F-16, that was the main factor in the success of intercepting the cruise missiles that were flying over Ukraine during the day on April 3. He noted that Ukrainian pilots demonstrate almost one-hundred-percent effectiveness specifically against this type of target. In addition to aviation, other air defense components were involved in repelling the attack: ground systems, helicopters, electronic warfare systems, and interceptor drones.

A separate hit of a Kh-101 missile was recorded in the Zhytomyr region. Overall, according to the Air Forces, impacts of 11 missiles and 27 strike UAVs occurred at 20 locations, and debris from shot-down targets was recorded at another 22 locations. The Russian army is also increasingly using daytime strikes, effectively testing a new tactic of psychological pressure on the population and the defense system.

Reminder: earlier we wrote:

• Russia uses drones with metal rods against Ukrainian Armed Forces’ UAVs
• EU estimates Ukraine’s need for 2,000 interceptor missiles per year
• “The drone revolution” by Ukrainians: why cheap craft proved more effective than expensive missiles
• Zelensky: Russia is cutting missile production and betting on strike drones
• Ukraine is creating its own air-defense dome against mass drone attacks