Russia has also started to launch fake drones, without any explosives, to confuse Ukraine’s air defence units and force them to waste ammunition. Compared to missiles they are much cheaper to build, easier to fire, and designed to sap morale.

According to Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv City military administration, defense teams successfully intercepted several cruise and ballistic missiles, along with close to a dozen drones, though the full extent of the damage remains under evaluation.

Russia overnight launched a “record” 145 drones at Ukrainian territory, according to Ukraine’s air force, 62 of which were shot down. A further 67 were “lost,” the air force said, a likely reference to electronic jamming that caused the drones to veer off course.