None of Russia’s 48 Shahed drones reach target during nighttime attack on Ukraine

On 1 November 2024, Ukraine’s Air Force reported successfully intercepting a large-scale Russian aerial assault that targeted multiple regions overnight. The attack, which began at 18:00 on 31 October, involved three guided aviation missiles Kh-59/69 launched from Kherson Oblast’s occupied part and 48 Shahed-type one-way attack drones.

Russia continues its deliberate daily air attacks on residential areas in attempts to terrorize civilians and damage civilian infrastructure. The Russian forces launch dozens of Shahed long-range “kamikaze” drones – usually Iranian-designed Shahed 131 or 136 – every night, often also launching several missiles during the attack.

The Ukrainian Air Force stated that the Russian drone attack originated from directions including Orel and Kursk in Russia. Tactical aviation targeted Kharkiv, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts with guided aviation bombs.

By 08:00 on 1 November, air defense systems confirmed shooting down 31 Russian drones. An additional 14 drones were “locationally lost” – meaning disappeared from radars most likely crashing, and three drones were tracked moving towards Belarus. One guided aviation missile Kh-59/69)was also successfully intercepted, according to the report.

The defense operation involved multiple military components, including anti-aircraft missile troops, aviation, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups from Ukraine’s Air and Defense Forces. Air defense systems were active in Kirovohrad, Kyiv, Cherkasy, Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, Sumy, Chernihiv, Odesa, and Poltava Oblasts.

While preliminary reports indicated no casualties, the attack did cause damage. Missile and drone debris impacts resulted in damage to several civilian enterprises and residential buildings in Poltava, Cherkasy, Kyiv, and Odesa Oblasts, the report notes.

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