Russia launches 140 drones and four missiles in overnight attack on Ukraine
Russia attacked Ukraine overnight from 18:00 on 25 October, launching 140 attack drones and four missiles. By 08:00 on 26 October, Ukrainian air defenses reported shooting down or suppressing three Kh-59/69 missiles and 112 drones, while the attack was still ongoing. Impacts were recorded at 15 locations, and debris fell at four more.
Key points
- The attack began at 18:00 on 25 October and continued overnight into 26 October.
- Russia launched 140 attack drones, including 70 reactive Shahed-type drones.
- The missile salvo included one Kh-31P anti-radiation missile and three Kh-59/69 guided aviation missiles.
- By 08:00 on 26 October, Ukrainian air defenses reported neutralizing three Kh-59/69 missiles and 112 drones.
- Impacts were recorded at 15 locations, with debris falling at four additional locations.
- Four people were reported injured in Zaporizhzhia and two in Kharkiv region.
- A hotel, private homes and buses were reportedly damaged in Zaporizhzhia.
Why it matters
The strike combined a large drone wave with a four-missile salvo from several launch directions. Ukrainian defenses neutralized most of the drones and all three reported Kh-59/69 missiles, but impacts at 15 locations and reported injuries and infrastructure damage show the continuing cost of the attack. Preliminary figures were published while several enemy drones remained in Ukrainian airspace and the attack was still underway.
What happened
Russia launched a large overnight air attack on Ukraine starting at 18:00 on 25 October. It used 140 attack drones, including Shahed, Gerber and Parodiya decoy drones, and four missiles: one Kh-31P anti-radiation missile and three Kh-59/69 guided aviation missiles. Drones came from the directions of Oryol, Kursk, Shatalovo and Millerovo in Russia, as well as Hvardiiske in occupied Crimea; the missiles were launched from occupied parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts.
By 08:00 on 26 October, Ukrainian air defenses reported shooting down or suppressing all three Kh-59/69 missiles and 112 of the 140 drones, including 56 reactive drones. Aviation, air-defense missile forces, electronic warfare and unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups took part in the response. The attack was still continuing at the time, with several Russian drones remaining in Ukrainian airspace. Impacts were recorded at 15 locations, while debris from downed targets fell at four additional sites. Four people were reportedly injured in Zaporizhzhia and two in Kharkiv region; a hotel, private homes and buses were damaged in Zaporizhzhia.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian reporting emphasizes the scale and mixed composition of the Russian attack: 140 drones and four missiles from several directions. It also highlights the air-defense result of three Kh-59/69 missiles and 112 drones neutralized by 08:00, alongside impacts at 15 locations, debris at four locations and reported casualties and damage in Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv region. The response is presented as coordinated across aviation, missile defense, electronic warfare, unmanned systems and mobile fire groups.
Where reporting differs
One report states that Ukrainian air defenses neutralized 115 targets in total. More detailed reports specify three Kh-59/69 missiles and 112 drones, which together also total 115.
Background
Over the preceding week, Russia reportedly launched about 1,600 guided bombs, 48 missiles and nearly 2,300 attack drones at Ukraine.