Russia attacks Ukraine with 170 drones overnight; 147 of them downed

What Happened

On the night of 26-27 September, Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 170 strike UAVs of various types, according to Ukraine's Air Force on Telegram. The launches began at 18:00 on 26 September and included Shahed-type strike UAVs (76 of them jet-powered), Gerbera drones, and Parodiya-type decoy drones. Ukrainian air defence shot down or jammed 147 Russian UAVs as of 07:30 on 27 September. Russian aerial attack assets struck 18 locations, while downed targets or their debris fell at eight locations. The drones were launched from Oryol, Kursk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk and Shatalovo in Russia, as well as from the temporarily occupied city of Donetsk and temporarily occupied Crimea. Ukrainian aircraft, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare and unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups repelled the attack. As of the morning of 27 September, the Russian attack was ongoing, with several Russian UAVs still in Ukrainian airspace.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The 170-drone assault is among the larger single-night UAV waves reported by Ukraine in the war, combining Shahed strike drones, jet-powered variants, and decoy drones to stretch air defences. Launching from both Russian territory and temporarily occupied Ukrainian areas underscores the continued cross-border threat to Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. The use of 76 jet-powered Shaheds and decoy drones indicates an effort to complicate detection and intercept prioritisation, and the attack's persistence into the morning of 27 September suggests a sustained operation rather than a single pulse.

Watch For

Ukraine's Air Force or General Staff may publish a final interception toll and damage assessment after the attack concludes, including whether any UAVs that remained in Ukrainian airspace as of 07:30 struck additional targets. Monitor for further waves on 27 September and official Ukrainian statements on locations hit, casualties if any, and the effectiveness of electronic warfare. Also watch for Russian Ministry of Defence claims about the operation, though Russian state framing typically characterises such strikes as against military or infrastructure targets.