Russia Hits Ukraine With 112 Drones as Kyiv Rushes New Air Defenses and Long-Range Operations
Russian forces launched 112 drones at Ukraine in less than 12 hours while Kyiv’s air defenses worked to stop them and President Volodymyr Zelensky signed off on new long-range operations for October. The day’s attacks and responses show how quickly both sides are adapting the air war.
Russian forces sent 112 drones against Ukraine between 06:30 and 18:00 on September 29, testing air defenses even as Kyiv approved new long-range operations and tried to expand its own strike and interception capabilities.
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that the salvo included 29 jet‑powered drones. Air defenses downed or suppressed 95 of the drones overall, including 18 of the jet‑powered type, while several remained in the air at the time of the update.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said four Russian guided bombs struck the Sumy region. One bomb hit a residential building and killed one person. Another hit a school building, causing extensive damage. He said children and teachers there were in a shelter and were not injured.
Ukraine’s leadership highlighted these attacks as it tried to strengthen defenses around the capital. Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara visited Air Force command posts in the Kyiv region to discuss Russia’s changing attack patterns and new threats to the area around Kyiv. The talks focused on how to detect, track, and destroy Russian aerial threats before they can reach the city.
Zelensky also announced that Ukraine has approved its long-range operations for October after discussions with the Defense Ministry, military officials, and those responsible for planning domestic weapons production. He said initial prototypes have been selected that could become effective weapons against jet‑powered Shahed‑type drones, with defined production timelines, funding and output targets.
The president noted that Ukraine recently received what he called a very good package of NASAMS surface‑to‑air missiles and is seeking more Patriot interceptors from partners. He said Belgium will provide three additional F‑16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
On the offensive side, Ukraine is also leaning on new drone technology. AI‑enabled drones operated by the 475th Code 9.2 Regiment are striking Russian armored vehicles before they can reach the border with the Kharkiv region. The unit says its drones are destroying Russian armored vehicles on a near‑industrial scale.
Other Ukrainian units are experimenting with heavier unmanned systems. Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade converted two BTR armored personnel carriers into unmanned ground vehicles packed with explosives for an operation near Nove and Katerynivka on the Lyman front. According to the unit, Russian troops did not react, allowing the BTRs to reach their targets and destroy Russian fortifications and equipment reportedly linked to a communications node.
Taken together, the drone barrage, guided bomb strikes in Sumy, Khmara’s focus on defending Kyiv’s airspace, and the push to field anti‑drone prototypes and long‑range missions show how much the air and drone war is shifting toward automation and industrial‑scale use of relatively low‑cost systems.
Key signals to watch now are whether Ukraine’s new long‑range October operations target Russian launch sites or logistics nodes involved in these drone and bomb attacks, how quickly the new prototypes against jet‑powered Shaheds appear in combat reports, and whether partners move on Zelensky’s appeals for more Patriot interceptors and additional F‑16s as Russia continues large‑scale raids.
Sources
- OSINT