On Thursday, August 21, 2025, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on social media that since 6:40 p.m. yesterday, Russian forces had launched 614 munitions at targets in western and central Ukraine. While most of them were shot down, the Russians managed to successfully strike, among others, Lviv and the town of Mukachevo in Zakarpattia.
Photos: State Emergency Service of Ukraine
The Russians launched:
- 574 Geran/Shahed-type unmanned aerial vehicles and various drone decoys (including Gerbera) from Kursk, Bryansk, Millerovo, Oryol, Shatalovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, as well as Hvardiiske in Crimea;
- 4 Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aero-ballistic/hypersonic missiles from the airspace over Lipetsk and Voronezh regions;
- 2 Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles from Voronezh region;
- 19 Kh-101 cruise missiles from strategic bombers in the airspace over Saratov region;
- 14 Kalibr cruise missiles from warships in the Black Sea;
- 1 unidentified missile from Crimea.
The attack was repelled by the Air Force, air defense missile units, electronic warfare (EW) and unmanned systems units, as well as mobile air defense groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. By 9:00 a.m. today, 546 drones, 1 Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missile, 18 Kh-101 missiles, and 12 Kalibr cruise missiles had been shot down or forced to crash.
This means that 28 drones, 3 Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missiles, 2 Iskander-M/KN-23 missiles, 1 Kh-101 missile, 2 Kalibr missiles, and 1 unidentified missile broke through the defenses. Strikes were recorded in 11 locations, while debris from downed drones fell in 3 locations.
⚡ ЗБИТО/ПОДАВЛЕНО 577 ЦІЛЕЙ ПРОТИВНИКАhttps://t.co/LPBr9rNzCt pic.twitter.com/aqSzzpCX4k
— Генеральний штаб ЗСУ (@GeneralStaffUA) August 21, 2025
According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, the towns of Pavlohrad and Synelnyk in Dnipropetrovsk region were attacked – several fires broke out, two enterprises and a gas pipeline were damaged, and a man born in 1977 was injured.
Внаслідок російської атаки на Дніпропетровщині травмований чоловік 1977 р.н. Вночі ворог обстріляв Павлоградський та Синельниківський р-ни.
Виникло декілька пожеж, понівечені 2 підприємства та газогін.
Наразі надзвичайники працюють на місцях ворожих ударів. pic.twitter.com/3FbMGtDbiB— DSNS.GOV.UA (@SESU_UA) August 21, 2025
In Zakarpattia region, 15 people were injured after an attack on an industrial facility in Mukachevo. A fire broke out, covering an area of about 7,000 square meters.
15 людей, попередньо, постраждали внаслідок обстрілу на Закарпатті: росіяни нанесли ракетні удари по території одного з промислових об’єктів у Мукачево.
Виникла пожежа, площею близько 7 тис. кв. м.
Триває ліквідація наслідків російського обстрілу. pic.twitter.com/Htmrh0e6ZU
— DSNS.GOV.UA (@SESU_UA) August 21, 2025
As a result of the attack on Lviv, one person was killed and another injured. Strikes were recorded in several parts of the city simultaneously. Private houses, uninhabited buildings, and vehicles were damaged. Fires broke out.
Вночі російські окупанти здійснили масовану атаку по Львову: є загиблий та постраждалі.
Пошкоджені приватні будинки, нежитлові будівлі й транспортні засоби. Виникли пожежі.
Деталі: https://t.co/mgmF2q2E7t pic.twitter.com/bXOJgoE97Q— DSNS.GOV.UA (@SESU_UA) August 21, 2025
Just before 5:00 a.m., the Polish Armed Forces Operational Command (DO RSZ) issued a press release about the scrambling of Air Force and allied aircraft:
“Attention. Due to the activity of the Russian Federation’s long-range aviation conducting strikes on the territory of Ukraine — including with the use of hypersonic missiles — Air Force and allied aircraft are operating in Polish airspace.”
“In accordance with applicable procedures, the Operational Command of the Armed Forces has activated all available forces and resources. On-duty fighter pairs have been scrambled, and air defense and radar reconnaissance systems have reached the highest state of readiness.”
“The actions taken are aimed at ensuring the security of the territory of the Republic of Poland and its citizens, particularly in areas bordering regions affected by warfare.”
“The Armed Forces Operational Command remains in constant readiness to respond and is continuously monitoring the development of the situation.”
❗Uwaga. ️ W związku z aktywnością lotnictwa dalekiego zasięgu Federacji Rosyjskiej, prowadzącego uderzenia na terytorium Ukrainy – w tym z użyciem rakiet hipersonicznych – w polskiej przestrzeni powietrznej operują samoloty Sił Powietrznych oraz lotnictwa sojuszniczego.… pic.twitter.com/R9BcK1b2rj
— Dowództwo Operacyjne RSZ (@DowOperSZ) August 21, 2025
Just before 8:20 a.m., it was announced that the aircraft had returned to their home bases:
“Due to the decreased level of threat from missile strikes by Russian aviation on the territory of Ukraine, the operation of Polish and allied aircraft in Polish airspace has been concluded, and the activated forces and resources have returned to standard operational activity.”
“We inform that no violation of Polish airspace was observed.”
“This was another night of heightened readiness of Polish and allied systems, as well as intensive duty of radar troops, pilots, ground service personnel, and soldiers on combat duty. We thank NATO Allied Air Command and the Royal Swedish Air Force, whose JAS 39 Gripen fighters helped ensure the security of Polish skies this morning.”
“The Polish Armed Forces are continuously monitoring the situation in Ukraine and remain in constant readiness to ensure the security of Polish airspace.”
Ze względu na zmniejszenie poziomu zagrożenia uderzeniami rakietowymi rosyjskiego lotnictwa na terytorium Ukrainy, operowanie polskiego i sojuszniczego lotnictwa w polskiej przestrzeni powietrznej zostało zakończone, a uruchomione siły i środki powróciły do standardowej… pic.twitter.com/E23DWYl5V7
— Dowództwo Operacyjne RSZ (@DowOperSZ) August 21, 2025
This was the largest Russian air and missile attack on targets in Ukraine since July 12 of this year, in terms of the number of munitions used (623 at that time), while the record attack since the beginning of the full-scale war took place on July 9 of this year, when 741 munitions were used.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky commented on the attack as follows:
“Yesterday evening, the Russian army set one of its insane anti-records. They attacked civilian infrastructure, residential buildings, and our people.
A number of cruise missiles were launched at an American enterprise in Zakarpattia. It was an ordinary civilian company, supported by American investments, producing everyday items such as coffee machines. And yet, it too became a target of the Russians. This is very telling. The fire at the plant is still being extinguished. So far, it has been reported that 15 people were injured in the attack — all have received the necessary assistance.
Rescuers are also operating in many other regions, from Zaporizhzhia to Volyn. In total, 574 strike drones and 40 missiles were launched at Ukraine overnight. A significant portion was intercepted, but unfortunately not all.
And the Russians carried out this attack as if nothing had changed, as if there were no global efforts to stop this war. This requires a response. There is still no signal from Moscow that they truly intend to engage in substantive negotiations and end this war. Pressure is needed. Harsh sanctions, harsh tariffs. I thank everyone who is helping.”
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