Ukrainian air defenses destroyed more than thirty drones on Wednesday evening after a Russian attack in Odesa and Mykolaiv regions in the south of the country, a spokeswoman said, according to France Presse.

• UPDATE 08:15 Air defense systems shot down 34 out of 44 Shahed drones launched by Russia overnight, the Armed Forces reported. “To repulse the attack, fighter jets, anti-aircraft missile units and mobile fire groups were deployed,” the military said in Telegram.

“Several groups of strike drones were launched last night” in these regions, said the spokesperson of the Southern Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Nataliya Gumenyuk, referring to a “massive strike”.

“However, the activity of the Air Defense Forces was quite effective. More than 30 drones were destroyed. More accurate estimates will be provided by the Air Force,” she added.

“The enemy does not stop attacking, does not stop the onslaught and the search for new tactics, especially with the help of massive attacks,” Nataliya Humenyuk said.

Russian forces regularly attack these regions of southern Ukraine with ports on the Black Sea, where port infrastructure is vital for maritime trade.

Attacks have increased since Russia withdrew from a grain agreement in July that allowed Ukraine to export its grain products.