Ukrainian air defense downed 92 Russian drones overnight on Tuesday as Moscow launched a major aerial assault targeting southern and eastern regions with missiles, Shahed-type drones and guided bombs.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force’s Tuesday morning update, Russian forces launched one Iskander-M ballistic missile from the Rostov region, six S-300 missiles from Kursk, and 130 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) of various types – including Shahed, Geran and other drones.
The weapons were launched from multiple directions, including Kursk, Oryol, Primorsko-Akhtarsk and Chauda in occupied Crimea.
“The air attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile forces, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces of Ukraine,” the Air Force wrote.
By 9 a.m., Ukrainian defense shot down 92 drones across the north, south and east of the country.
Missiles and drones struck 14 locations, the statement added.
Dnipropetrovsk region: 1 killed, 11 injured
In southern Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, Russian missile and drone strikes killed one civilian and injured at least 11 others, including two children, according to regional head Vladyslav Haivanenko.
“The enemy attacked the Mykolaiv community of the Synelnykivskyi Raion with a missile and UAV,” Haivanenko wrote on Telegram. “A 65-year-old woman was killed. Eight other people were injured. Among them are two children. A 15-year-old boy will be treated on an outpatient basis. A 5-year-old girl is hospitalized in serious condition. As were two adults.”
He added that “a café-shop, a private house and a car were hit,” and that 12 homes were damaged in total.
Haivanenko also reported that “the enemy rammed with a [guided aerial bomb] in the Vasylkiv community, smashing cars.”
In the Nikopol district, Russian troops attacked with first-person view (FPV) drones, artillery and Grad multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), striking the Nikopol, Marganets and Pokrov communities.
“Three men were injured – 43, 51 and 52 years old. Everyone will be treated at home. An ambulance was damaged,” he said.
A further drone strike hit Pavlohrad, damaging infrastructure.
Haivanenko said air defense forces shot down nine drones over the region overnight.
Zaporizhzhia region: 668 attacks on 14 settlements
In the Zaporizhzhia region, Russian forces carried out 668 strikes on 14 settlements, according to Ivan Fedorov, head of the regional military administration.
“Russian troops carried out three air strikes on Malokaterynivka, Chervone, and Malynivka,” Fedorov reported.
“Four hundred and two drones of various modifications (mainly FPV) attacked Chervononodenkove, Bilenke, Prymorsk, Stepove, Hulyaipole, Novodanylivka, Mala Tokmachka, and Charivne.”
Russian troops also launched four Grad MLRS barrages on Hryhorivka, Stepnohirsk, and Uspenivka, and 259 artillery strikes on Prymorsk, Stepove, Huliaipole, Novodanylivka, Mala Tokmachka, and Charivne.
Fedorov said there were “42 reports of damage to housing, infrastructure and cars,” but no civilian casualties.
Odesa region: port and energy infrastructure hit
In the Odesa region, Russian forces carried out two waves of drone attacks overnight, targeting energy and port infrastructure, according to regional governor Oleh Kiper.
“The enemy again massively attacked the energy and port infrastructure of Odesa region,” Kiper wrote. “Despite the active work of air defense, which destroyed most of the enemy targets, there was a hit in the civilian port and energy infrastructure.”
Fires broke out after the strikes, damaging roads, production facilities and equipment, but were quickly extinguished by emergency services.
“Fortunately, there were no dead or injured. There are no power outages,” Kiper said.
Pattern of escalation
The latest attacks highlight a widening Russian campaign across Ukraine as winter approaches.
Tuesday’s attack followed another major attack on the Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia and Mykolaiv regions just a day prior.
Russia has been hitting Ukraine’s energy grid intermittently since 2022, with the campaign peaking in summer 2024 and triggering rolling blackouts that left some areas with a few hours of electricity a day.
While Ukraine has restored some of its generation capacity, Moscow has renewed attacks on the energy grid ahead of the 2025-26 winter, prompting the return of rolling blackout schedules.
Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), said in October that Moscow’s goal is to stir social unrest by plunging Ukraine into a total blackout.
“The Russian leadership wants to achieve a complete power outage because it believes that will create social discontent within the country,” he said.