Ukraine’s air defence repels another Russian drone attack
A Shahed-136 kamikaze drone that Russia uses to attack Ukraine, a video grab

Ukraine’s air defence forces shot down 18 of the 24 Shahed-136/131 kamikaze drones that Russia attacked Ukraine with overnight on Thursday, the Air Force said in a statement.

Russia attacked Ukraine with drones from the north, the Bryansk region of Russia, and from the south, the eastern coast of the Sea of Azov, using 24 drones, the statement read.

Explosions were heard in the Kyiv and Odesa region, as well as the city of Zaporizhzhia.

In Odesa, 12 out of 15 kamikaze drones were shot, and a residential hotel was hit, according to Serhii Bratchuk, the speaker of the regional military administration.

Ukraine’s air defence destroyed 18 Shahed-136/131 drones and one reconnaissance drone in cooperation with other Defence Forces.

"Combat operations were conducted in the northern, central and southern regions of Ukraine," the Air Force added.

The attack is the third this week, with Russia actively using kamikaze drones as it claims Ukraine has launched its counteroffensive.

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