Air defense forces shot down 101 drones during a nighttime attack by Russia
On the evening of September 19 and overnight on September 20, Russia attacked Ukraine with 138 drones. Air defense forces shot down 101 enemy drones, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
Russian troops launched another attack on Ukraine on the evening of September 19. They used 138 drones in the strike. The attack continued throughout the night. Ukrainian air defense forces engaged enemy targets in the country’s airspace. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Ukrainian military personnel managed to neutralize 101 drones.
This refers specifically to neutralized targets. This category may include both drones that were shot down and those that were jammed by electronic warfare systems or otherwise rendered incapable of carrying out their missions. The Air Force reported the results of its air defense operations on its Telegram channel.
How Ukrainian Air Defense Operated
During such attacks, the Ukrainian military employs several methods simultaneously to counter drones. Some targets are destroyed by fire teams. Mobile units, anti-aircraft missile systems, and electronic warfare systems are also deployed against Russian drones.
Electronic warfare allows for interference with a drone’s navigation and control systems. As a result, the drone may lose its bearings, change course, or crash before reaching its target. This is precisely why Air Force reports use the term “neutralized” rather than simply “shot down.” It encompasses various methods of countering enemy drones.
What is known about the attack
In total, Russian forces launched 138 drones. Air defense units and other Defense Forces units worked throughout the night to prevent the drones from striking their designated targets. They managed to neutralize 101 of them. Regarding the remaining drones, the Air Force does not provide full details in the statement. Therefore, it cannot be concluded that all of them reached their targets.
Furthermore, the Air Force’s brief statement does not provide complete information on the consequences of the attack in specific regions. Details regarding possible hits, falling debris, damage, or casualties may be clarified by local authorities.
Russia continues to use drones
Russian forces regularly deploy strike drones during attacks on Ukraine. These drones are used to strike military and civilian targets, as well as to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defense system. During massive attacks, Russia may launch dozens or more than a hundred drones in a single night. Some of them are directed along complex routes to complicate the work of air defense forces.
The Ukrainian military continues to track aerial targets and destroy or neutralize them. Following the attacks on September 19–20, the Air Force reported that Russia had launched 138 drones. Of these, 101 were neutralized by Ukrainian air defenses. The Ukrainian Air Force reported this on Telegram.
