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Russian forces attacked Ukraine overnight on October 4 with 135 attack drones of various types, including 52 jet-powered Shaheds, Ukraine’s Air Force said.
The attack also involved Gerbera drones, Banderol /Dan-T drones and Parodiya decoys. Russian forces launched the drones from six directions, including Orel, Kursk, Millerovo and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, as well as temporarily occupied parts of Donetsk region and Crimea.
Ukrainian aviation, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare and unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces were involved in repelling the attack.
As of 8:30 a.m., Ukrainian air defenses had shot down or suppressed 123 Shahed, Gerbera and other drones, as well as two Banderol /Dan-T drones, according to preliminary data.
Russian air attack weapons struck five locations, while debris from downed drones fell at another five locations. The attack was still ongoing in the morning, with several Russian drones remaining in Ukrainian airspace.
The latest attack comes as Russia has intensified strikes on Kyiv’s bridges over the Dnieper River. The Washington Post reported that Russian attacks had damaged several bridges in recent days, disrupting traffic and creating concerns about further disruption to the capital ahead of winter.
The increased use of jet-powered drones is also placing additional pressure on Ukraine’s air defenses, as the faster aircraft are more difficult to intercept with existing systems.
