Direct hits at 5%: Russia launches record number of drones at Ukraine in October
Photo: Shahed kamikaze drone (Getty Images)
In August, September, and October 2024, Russia launched 4,300 strike drones at Ukraine. This included both Shahed drones and other UAV types that imitate the real Shahed drones, according to the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Ukrainian air defense forces managed to shoot down 3,063 enemy drones during these three months, which accounts for 71%.
Additionally, daily reports from the Air Force have introduced the designation "locationally lost," indicating that these drones disappeared from radar, likely due to active electronic warfare (EW) measures or other reasons. From August to October 2024, there were 1,052 such drones, representing 24%.
Thus, direct hits from enemy drones account for 5%. Damage or destruction may also result from the fall of drones that were shot down by air defense.
According to Ukrainian military data, October was a record month for the launch of enemy strike drones:
- August: 818 launched, 701 shot down, 91 locationally lost;
- September: 1,410 launched, 1,156 shot down, 201 locationally lost;
- October: 2,072 launched, 1,206 shot down, 766 locationally lost.
In comparison, from May to July 2024, a total of 1,133 strike drones were launched at Ukrainian territory. The air defense shot down 1,055, and 10 were locationally lost.
The interception rate for the period from May to July 2024 was approximately 94%. Thus, the percentage of direct hits from enemy strike drones, such as the Shahed and other UAVs that imitate real Shaheds, was 6% in May-July and 5% in August-October 2024.
Drone attacks on Ukraine
Recently, Russia has intensified its drone attacks on Ukraine, launching dozens of Shaheds every night. Most enemy targets are successfully destroyed by Ukrainian air defense forces.
Earlier, a military expert explained why Russia has paused missile attacks and uses drones every night.
According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russia carried out hundreds of aerial strikes on Ukraine during the past week, using bombs, missiles, and drones.
