October was record-breaking month for Russian drone launches, with 5% resulting in direct hits
Russia has launched 4,300 Shahed-type attack drones and other imitation Shaheds on Ukraine over the past three months. Air defence destroyed 71% of them.
Source: General Staff on social media
Details: According to the Air Force, in August, September and October 2024, Russia deployed 4,300 Shahed-type attack UAVs and other drones that are imitations of actual Shaheds across Ukraine.
Thanks to the coordinated combat efforts of the Ukrainian air defence systems, 3,063 Russian UAVs were shot down (71%).
In addition, the Air Force's daily reports mark some of them as "disappeared from radar", which means some of the drones were either subject to countermeasures by electronic warfare units or failed to reach their targets for other reasons [some returned to Russia or flew into the territory of Belarus – ed.]. There were 1,052 such drones (24%) in the period from August to October 2024.
Thus, 5% of Russian UAVs delivered direct hits, the General Staff notes. Destruction or damage may also be caused when UAVs descend after being shot down by air defence.
It is worth noting that October was a record month for the launch of Russian drones.
In August, 818 were launched, 701 shot down, and 9 disappeared from radar;
In September, 1,410 were launched, 1,156 shot down, and 201 disappeared from radar;
In October, 2,072 were launched, 1,206 shot down, and 766 disappeared from radar.
Over the equivalent period of May, June and July 2024, 1,133 attack UAVs were launched over the territory of Ukraine. Air defence shot down 1,055 of them, and 10 disappeared from radar.
In the period from May to July, the percentage of drones downed was about 94%.
Thus, the percentage of direct hits by Russian Shahed-type attack UAVs and imitation Shaheds in May-July and August-October 2024 was 6% and 5% respectively.
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