Air defense units of the 5th Brigade have shot down eight russian unmanned aerial vehicles over Kharkiv region in recent days, according to footage released by the formation. The interceptions highlight the continued intensity of drone attacks targeting northeastern Ukraine.
The brigade reported that all eight drones were Iranian-designed Shahed-type loitering munitions used by russian forces to strike urban areas and infrastructure. The UAVs were reportedly aimed at residential neighborhoods and industrial facilities in Kharkiv, a city that has faced persistent aerial threats since the start of the full-scale invasion.
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Operating under the National Guard of Ukraine, the brigade's air defense crews have been tasked with maintaining air front over the region. Their work relies heavily on mobile fire groups that can quickly reposition to intercept incoming drones.
A serviceman from one of these mobile units, known by the callsign Malyi, emphasized the around-the-clock nature of the mission.
"We work 24 hours a day, especially when Kharkiv residents try to rest at night," he said, stressing that their objective is to ensure civilians can sleep safely despite ongoing threats.
The Shahed drones, frequently launched in nighttime waves, are designed to overwhelm air defenses and cause psychological as well as physical damage. By targeting populated districts and key enterprises, russian forces seek to disrupt daily life and strain Ukraine’s defensive resources.
As Defense Express previously reported, Ukrainian forces have carried out a new series of precision strikes against russian military assets in temporarily occupied territories, according to an evening update published on March 3 by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The strikes targeted critical components of russia's air defense and drone command infrastructure.
Read more: Ukraine Strikes russian S-300 Radar, Sopka-2 and Kasta-2E2 Systems, Repair Unit and UAV Command Posts (Video)
