--- title: "Night of October 20: Russia used 165 strike drones, air defense shot down 115 targets, but hits recorded in 30 locations" description: "On the night of October 20, Russia attacked Ukraine with 165 strike drones, 105 of them jet-powered. Air defense shot down or suppressed 115 targets, but hits were recorded in 30 locations, and debris fell in 13." date: 2026-10-20T05:31:39.697Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/russia-night-attack-165-drones-ukraine tags: [ukraine-war, drone-attack, air-defense, shahed, patriot, russia] author: "Alexander Buran, Andrey Kosynko" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Night of October 20: Russia used 165 strike drones, air defense shot down 115 targets, but hits recorded in 30 locations ![Ukrainian serviceman in protective gear adjusts the sight of an anti-aircraft mount](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/20/rossiya-nochnaya-ataka-165-dronov-ukraina-pvo-30-lokacij/rossiya-nochnaya-ataka-165-dronov-ukraina-pvo-30-lokacij-1.webp) ## Key Points - Russia used 165 strike drones (105 jet-powered) starting 18:00 on October 19; launches came from Oryol, Kursk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Donetsk, Crimea, and the Azov Sea. - By 08:00, air defense shot down or suppressed 115 targets, with another 20 in the air; hits were recorded in 30 locations, debris in 13. - The attack coincided with reports about the unofficial lack of approval for transferring Patriot interceptors to Ukraine and their depletion. On the night of October 20, Russia launched one of its largest air strikes on Ukraine in recent times: according to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the enemy used 165 strike drones, 105 of which were jet-powered. The air attack began at 18:00 on October 19 and continued until morning. By 08:00, air defense forces shot down or suppressed 115 targets, but according to preliminary data, impacts were recorded in 30 locations, and debris from downed drones fell in another 13 spots. At the time of publication, air defense combat operations were not completed — about 20 strike devices remained in the air. ### Attack Composition and Launch Tactics For the night strike, Russia used a wide range of drones: Shahed kamikaze drones, including jet modifications, S8000 Banderol/Dan-T type devices, Gerbera, as well as Parody-class decoy drones designed to overload air defense channels. According to preliminary information, among the 115 downed or suppressed targets, 73 were jet-powered Shaheds. The use of decoys and mixed waves is a characteristic feature of recent massive attacks, aimed at depleting interceptor stocks and reducing the effectiveness of anti-aircraft missile systems. ### Directions from Which Drones Came Launches were carried out from several directions. From the Russian side, drones started from the territories of Oryol, Kursk, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk. In addition, devices were launched from temporarily occupied territories — Donetsk and Crimea (Chauda and Hvardiiske areas), as well as from the waters of the Azov Sea. The multi-vector nature of the attack complicates the work of air defense and requires simultaneous reception of targets from different azimuths, which increases the load on the defense system. ### Air Defense Operations and Consequences of Strikes The repulsion of the air attack was carried out by Ukraine's air defense forces. As of 08:00, 115 drones were shot down or suppressed, while another 20 were in the air, and combat operations continued. Impacts of air attack weapons were recorded in 30 locations, and the fall of debris from downed drones in 13. All figures are preliminary and may be updated as air defense operations conclude and the consequences of the strikes are sorted out. ### Context: The Issue of Patriot Interceptors The attack comes against the background of discussions in international media regarding the status of Patriot interceptor missile supplies. According to The Washington Post, US President Donald Trump's administration has not approved the transfer of these missiles to Ukraine: according to the publication's sources, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth has not officially rejected the transfer, but has not taken steps to approve it either. Earlier, CNN reported that Ukraine had run out of Patriot interceptor missiles. These reports increase attention to the stability of Ukraine's air defense under multiple massive attacks. ### Energy Infrastructure Under Pressure The night strike on October 20 was a continuation of a series of attacks on critical infrastructure. On the night of October 14, Russian ballistic missiles hit three power plants in Kyiv and energy infrastructure facilities in Kharkiv. The combined use of ballistics and hundreds of drones points to a strategy of systematic pressure on the energy system, making air defense work and infrastructure restoration key tasks for Ukraine. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [РФ атаковала Украину почти 200 дронами, есть 30 "прилетов", - Воздушные Силы](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/rf-atakuvala-ukrayinu-mayzhe-200-dronami-1792474024.html) - Primary source for the Oct 19-20 event: 165 drones, 105 jet-powered, 115 shot down/suppressed, 20 in the air, 30 impact locations, 13 debris locations; launches from Oryol, Kursk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Donetsk, Crimea (Chauda, Hvardiiske) and the Azov Sea. - [Ночью Украину атаковали 200 дронов, есть "прилеты": сколько целей обезвредила ПВО](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/vnochi-ukrayinu-atakuvali-200-droniv-e-priloti-1789450699.html) - Context: attack on September 15 (~200 drones); does not relate to the October 19-20 event. - [Россия атаковала Украину почти 140 дронами, есть погибшие и раненые](https://mignews.com/news/ukraine/rossiya-atakovala-ukrainu-pochti-140-dronami-est-pogibshie-i-ranenye.html) - Context: attack on September 20 (138 drones); does not relate to the October 19-20 event. - [РФ атаковала Украину 200 дронами: силы ПВО уничтожили 187 БПЛА](https://news.bigmir.net/ukraine/10430875-rf-atakovala-ukrainu-200-dronami-sily-pvo-unichtozhili-187-bpla) - Context: attack on September 15 (200 drones, 187 shot down); does not relate to the October 19-20 event. ## FAQ ### How many drones did Russia use on the night of October 20? According to the Ukrainian Air Force, 165 strike drones, of which 105 were jet-powered. ### How many targets did Ukrainian air defense shoot down? As of 08:00, 115 drones were shot down or suppressed, another 20 were in the air, and combat work continued. ### Where were the consequences of the attack recorded? Hits were recorded in 30 locations, and debris from downed drones fell in 13 locations.