In August, Russia deployed 2,800 jet-powered drones against Ukraine
In August 2026, Russia deployed more than 2,800 jet-powered drones against Ukraine. According to Yuriy Ignat, Russia continues to increase its use of such drones during attacks on Ukraine.
Yuriy Ignat, head of the communications department of the Ukrainian Air Force Command, made this statement on television.
“The enemy increased its use of jet-powered UAVs fivefold in July compared to June. This trend continued in August. More than 2,800 jet-powered UAVs were deployed in August,” Ignat noted.
According to him, the shoot-down rate for drones exceeds 60%. At the same time, as Ignat noted, the shoot-down rate for classic “Shahed” drones with internal combustion engines remains consistently high—up to 90–95%.
In addition, as Ignat noted, the enemy is constantly changing the launch routes for jet-powered drones.
“If the Defense Forces have reinforced their presence in a particular direction or area, the enemy will naturally suffer losses there. They may change their tactics on the second or third day. This could involve different types of drones, different speeds, different altitudes, and different flight paths. We have to react instantly,” Ignat said.
He added that every commander on the ground must quickly determine rational and effective methods for shooting down these targets.
“The situation is assessed and quickly analyzed, ensuring effectiveness—the most effective engagement possible with the resources we have. Whether air platforms—that is, planes or helicopters—or ground-based air defense systems will be used,” said Ignat.
On September 1, Russian troops attacked a facility in the Poltava community. According to Vitaliy Dyakivnych, head of the Poltava Regional State Administration, three people were injured as a result of the strike.
In Kyiv’s Shevchenkivskyi district, a fire broke out in a non-residential building following a Russian drone attack. Emergency services are on the scene, working to deal with the aftermath of the strike.
In Kyiv, rescue workers extinguished a large-scale fire that broke out in the Holosiivskyi district following a Russian attack on the morning of August 30. The fire engulfed a non-residential building covering an area of about 3,000 square meters; there were no casualties or injuries.
