Russia launches 152 drones at Ukraine, more than half of them jet-powered
Russia launched 152 drones at Ukraine overnight, including 82 jet-powered UAVs, as well as three missiles. Air defenses intercepted all three missiles and 106 drones, but strikes were recorded at 24 locations across the country.
The overnight attack included one Zircon/Oniks anti-ship missile and two Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missiles, Ukraine’s Air Force said on Sept. 29. Russia also launched Shahed-type attack drones, Gerbera drones, decoys and other UAVs from several locations in Russia and Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories.
According to preliminary data as of 8 a.m., Ukrainian forces shot down or suppressed 109 targets: all three missiles and 106 drones. Debris from intercepted targets fell at another 16 locations. The Air Force said several Russian drones remained in Ukrainian airspace and the attack was continuing.
In Kyiv, one person was injured after a six-story residential building was hit in the Holosiivskyi district, according to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service. Ten people were evacuated from the building.
Two private homes were damaged in the capital’s Solomianskyi district. Earlier, city authorities also reported damage to an educational facility and an administrative building there, while fires and damage were recorded in several other districts.
In Kyiv Oblast, two people were hospitalized after a Russian drone strike caused fires at two homes in the Bucha district.
The unusually large number of jet-powered drones comes as Ukraine works to improve its ability to intercept the faster UAVs.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sept. 28 that Ukraine currently intercepts about 57% of Russian jet-powered drones, compared with around 70% of drones overall.
Ukraine is testing new interceptor systems against jet-powered UAVs, with some already being used by combat units. Zelenskyy said the technology still needs to be refined and scaled up for mass production.
