Ukrainian drones hit over 52,000 Russian targets only in October, military chief says

Ukraine’s Armed Forces managed to hit and destroy 52,000 Russian targets using strike bomber drones during October, according to Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.

Since 2022, Ukraine has significantly expanded its use of strike bomber drones in the war against Russia, employing them for long-range attacks on strategic targets deep inside Russian territory. By targeting ammunition depots, airfields, oil refineries, and production facilities, Ukraine has been able to undermine Russia’s war-fighting capabilities.

The Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported that strike bomber drones proved particularly effective, successfully targeting 129 artillery systems and 221 units of radio equipment. The operations also resulted in casualties of over 4,000 Russian personnel.

He said that Ukrainian military conducted more than 7,000 drone missions in October, achieving significant results despite challenging weather conditions.

“The development of unmanned and robotic systems and increasing the combat capabilities of UAV units is one of our key priorities,” Syrskyi said. 

The data was presented during a regular monthly review of unmanned systems operations, where military leadership assessed the performance and strategic implementation of Ukraine’s drone capabilities.

On 9 November, Ukrainian drones targeted the Aleksinsky Chemical Plant in Russia’s Tula Oblast, a facility linked to defense contractor Rostec that produces gunpowder and ammunition for Russian military use. 

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