Russia launches 410 drones at Ukraine in single daytime attack on September 12
Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 410 strike drones between 6:30 and 18:00 on September 12, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. Ukrainian air defense shot down or suppressed 336 of them, but 21 hits were recorded and about 55 drones remained airborne as of 18:00, with new groups still entering Ukrainian airspace.
Key points
- Russia launched 410 strike drones at Ukraine between 6:30 and 18:00 on September 12, 37 of them jet-powered.
- Ukrainian air defense shot down or suppressed 336 drones during that period, including 23 jet-powered ones.
- 21 drone hits were recorded despite the interceptions.
- As of 18:00, about 55 strike drones remained in Ukrainian airspace.
- New groups of UAVs continued entering Ukrainian airspace as of the reporting time.
- During the night of September 12, Russia also used 129 strike drones along with missiles.
- In the afternoon, railway facilities in Volyn and Kyiv oblasts were hit, with impacts reported in Lutsk and Fastiv.
- The figures were released after 18:30 by the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Why it matters
A daytime salvo of 410 drones is a very large-scale aerial attack on Ukraine, and the fact that about 55 drones were still airborne at 18:00 with new groups entering shows the barrage was still unfolding. Recorded hits indicate that interception, despite a high shot-down rate, did not prevent all damage.
What happened
On September 12, Russian forces carried out a sustained drone attack on Ukrainian territory during the day. According to the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which released its figures after 18:30, 410 strike drones — 37 of them jet-powered — were used between 6:30 and 18:00. Ukrainian air defense shot down or suppressed 336 of them, including 23 jet-powered drones, but 21 hits by strike drones were recorded. As of 18:00, approximately 55 operational-strategic level drones were still observed in Ukrainian airspace, and new groups of UAVs continued entering the country. During the night of September 12, Russia additionally deployed 129 strike drones together with missiles. In the afternoon, railway infrastructure in Volyn and Kyiv oblasts was struck, with hits reported in Lutsk and Fastiv.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
All figures come from the Ukrainian Air Force, which provides the official count of drones launched, intercepted and still airborne. Ukrainian coverage emphasizes air defense performance — 336 drones shot down or suppressed in a single daytime window — alongside the residual threats of 21 hits and roughly 55 drones still in the air.