Russia Launches 80 Drones at Ukraine, Hitting 7 Sites Across 5 Oblasts
Updated
Updated · Institute for the Study of War · Sep 17
Russia Launches 80 Drones at Ukraine, Hitting 7 Sites Across 5 Oblasts
3 articles · Updated · Institute for the Study of War · Sep 17
Summary
Ukrainian officials said Russia sent 80 Shahed, Gerbera and decoy drones overnight, with strikes reported in Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Poltava and Volyn oblasts.
Ukraine’s air force said it shot down 63 drones, but an unspecified number still hit seven locations and debris fell at two others.
The targets included commercial, transport, residential, energy, rail and industrial infrastructure, with passenger rail facilities in Volyn hit for the fourth time since Sept. 12.
The barrage comes as Russia sharply expands use of jet-powered drones—Reuters cited Ukrainian data showing about 2,850 used in August, up from roughly 450 in June.
That shift is straining Ukraine’s defenses: Zelensky said Kyiv is testing new interceptors, while an F-16 commander said pilots are rationing AIM-9 and AIM-120 missiles.