On Tuesday, March 24, 2026, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported another large-scale Russian drone attack involving 556 munitions. It was the second attack within 24 hours.
Among the targets was a historic townhouse on Soborna Square in central Lviv / Photo: X
It was one of the largest attacks in terms of the number of drones used. Typically, other types of munitions (such as ballistic, cruise, or guided missiles) were also employed in smaller numbers, but not this time. Taking into account the earlier attack that day, Russian forces used a total of 948 unmanned aerial vehicles.
From 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time, Russian forces launched 556 drones, including 350 Geran/Shahed and Italmas drones, as well as decoy drones of various types (including Gerbera). A large number of drones were launched from the north, approaching from the Chernihiv and Sumy regions.
The geography of the daytime raid was broader than at night, covering the Poltava, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, and Vinnytsia regions, as well as western parts of the country, from Khmelnytskyi to Lviv.
The attack was repelled by aviation, air defense missile forces, electronic warfare (EW) units, unmanned systems units, and mobile air defense groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
According to preliminary data, as of 6:00 p.m. local time, air defense systems had shot down or forced down 541 drones, while 15 struck their targets. At the time of publication, efforts to counter the drones were still ongoing.
⚡️ ЗБИТО/ПОДАВЛЕНО 541 ВОРОЖИЙ БПЛА
У вівторок 24 березня росія здійснює одну з наймасованіших атак на Україну ударними безпілотниками.
Докладніше:https://t.co/vlw4dGKwoX pic.twitter.com/Hc1HK9LGwF— Генеральний штаб ЗСУ (@GeneralStaffUA) March 24, 2026
In Lviv, at least 13 people were injured, Mayor Andriy Sadovyi reported, though the number may rise. Firefighters are extinguishing a residential building fire. We are preparing residents for evacuation, he added.
Drone strikes were also reported near a maternity hospital in Ivano-Frankivsk, as well as in Vinnytsia, Ternopil, Kyiv, and Zhytomyr.
Map of attacks (source):
Map: mon1tor_ua via Telegram
According to the published map, the attacks took place across the entire country, including areas close to the border with Poland.
At 4:42 p.m., the Polish Armed Forces Operational issued the following statement:
Attention. Due to the activity of Russian Shahed-type unmanned aerial vehicles in western Ukraine, Polish and allied aircraft have begun operating in our airspace.
In accordance with established procedures, the Operational Command activated the necessary forces and assets at its disposal. Fighter jets and a helicopter are in operation, and ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems have been placed on the highest level of readiness.
These actions are preventive in nature and are aimed at securing and protecting airspace, particularly in areas adjacent to threatened regions.
The Operational Command is monitoring the situation on an ongoing basis, and subordinate forces and assets remain ready for immediate response.
Zgodnie z opublikowaną mapą, ataki miały miejsce na rozciągłości całego kraju, również blisko granicy z Polską.
❗️Uwaga. W związku z aktywnością rosyjskich bezzałogowych statków powietrznych typu Shahed w zachodniej części Ukrainy rozpoczęło się operowanie polskiego i sojuszniczego lotnictwa w naszej przestrzeni powietrznej.
Zgodnie z obowiązującymi procedurami Dowództwo Operacyjne RSZ… pic.twitter.com/Mun5iGyXA9
— Dowództwo Operacyjne RSZ (@DowOperSZ) March 24, 2026
At 6:22 p.m., another statement was released:
The operation of Polish and allied aircraft in our airspace, carried out in connection with strikes by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, has concluded. The activated ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems have returned to standard operational activity.
This was one of the largest aerial attacks on Ukraine—over the past 24 hours, more than 900 unmanned aerial vehicles as well as 30 ballistic and cruise missiles were used in the strikes.
We inform that no violation of Polish airspace was observed.
We thank NATO, NATO Allied Air Command, and the Spanish Air Force, whose aircraft helped ensure security in Polish skies today.
The Polish Armed Forces, in accordance with the assumptions of Operation Eastern Aurora, are continuously monitoring the situation in Ukraine and remain in constant readiness to ensure the security of Polish airspace.
Operowanie polskiego i sojuszniczego lotnictwa w naszej przestrzeni powietrznej, związane z uderzeniami Federacji Rosyjskiej na Ukrainę, zostało zakończone. Uruchomione naziemne systemy obrony powietrznej i rozpoznania radiolokacyjnego powróciły do standardowej działalności… pic.twitter.com/M3TQ2dKOwn
— Dowództwo Operacyjne RSZ (@DowOperSZ) March 24, 2026
Lviv's historic center. Russians have carried out a terrorist attack. Drones are attacking residential buildings and people on the streets.
Many people wounded
This is pure terror against the civilian population. These strikes serve no military purpose. pic.twitter.com/YJwJZR3xS8
— Денис Казанський (@den_kazansky) March 24, 2026
WATCH: The moment a Russian drone struck the center of Lviv. pic.twitter.com/QA3R1z4z0H
— Clash Report (@clashreport) March 24, 2026