Russia Hits Ukraine With 87 Shahed Drones, One Civilian Killed

Moscow: One person has died after Russian forces attacked Ukraine overnight with 87 Shahed drones and four different types of missiles, officials said Sunday.

A 49-year-old man was killed in the Kharkiv region when his car was struck by a drone, as stated by regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov. Additionally, a gas pipeline was damaged and a warehouse caught fire in Odesa, according to Ukrainian officials.

Ukraine's air force stated that their defenses managed to intercept 56 out of 87 drones and two missiles across 14 regions, including the capital, Kyiv. Furthermore, 25 drones vanished from radar, likely due to anti-aircraft missile defense systems.

25 Drones Went Missing From Radar

This drone attack occurred just a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he would present his “victory plan” at the upcoming October 12 meeting of the Ramstein group of nations that provide military support to Ukraine. Zelenskyy shared details of this plan with US President Joe Biden in Washington last week. While the specifics have not been disclosed, it is known to include Ukraine’s bid for NATO membership and the request for long-range missiles capable of striking targets within Russia.

Shahed Drones and Its Specifications

The Iranian-made Shahed 131 and 136 one-way attack unmanned aerial systems (UAS), which Russia has begun to manufacture domestically under the names Geran 1 and 2, have played a significant role in Moscow’s strike campaign targeting Ukraine's critical infrastructure. Additionally, these drones pose a threat in the airspace of several Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel, in recent years.

In a statement on Sunday, the Ukrainian leader honored the country's troops, who are also preparing for the next Ramstein meeting. “They show what Ukrainians can achieve when provided with adequate weapons and range,” he stated on social media. “We will continue to urge our partners that drones alone aren’t sufficient. More decisive actions are necessary to bring the end of this war closer.”

(With inputs from AP)