--- title: "Multiple missile waves and a drone wave: Armed Forces of Ukraine detail composition and routes of Russia's nighttime strike on Ukraine" description: "On the night of November 3, Russia launched a massive multi-wave strike on Ukraine using ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as 289 drones. Air defense shot down 309 targets, but strikes hit 23 locations." date: 2026-11-03T08:18:45.431Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/russian-massive-strike-on-ukraine-november-3 tags: [ukraine-war, air-defense, missile-attack, energy-infrastructure, russia-ukraine] author: "Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Multiple missile waves and a drone wave: Armed Forces of Ukraine detail composition and routes of Russia's nighttime strike on Ukraine ![Air Force Spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat speaks at a briefing commenting on the Russian nighttime strike](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/03/massirovannyy-udar-rf-po-ukraine-nochyu-na-3-noyabrya/massirovannyy-udar-rf-po-ukraine-nochyu-na-3-noyabrya-1.webp) ## Key Points - According to Air Force Spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat, the Russian attack unfolded in waves: around 3:00 AM — ballistic missiles, near morning — cruise missiles. - The strike involved Kh-101, Iskander-K, Zircon, Iskander-M/KN-23, as well as Kh-59 and Kh-69 aviation missiles. - On the night of November 3, Russia launched missiles and 289 drones; air defense shot down or suppressed 309 targets, with hits recorded at 23 locations. - The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed strikes on TPPs in the Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv regions and on Odesa ports. On the night of November 3, 2026, Russia launched another massive strike on Ukraine, which, according to Air Force Spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat, unfolded in several waves. Speaking on the national telethon, he stated that around 3:00 AM the enemy deployed ballistic missiles, and closer to morning cruise missiles entered Ukraine's airspace. This is reported by RBC-Ukraine. ### Composition of the weapons used According to Ihnat's assessment, the attack involved Kh-101 missiles launched from strategic aviation, as well as Iskander-Ks. The ballistic missiles included Zirkons, Iskander-Ms, or KN-23s. The enemy additionally used Kh-59 and Kh-69 guided air-to-surface missiles. The speaker emphasized that the nighttime strike weapons were directed primarily at critical infrastructure and energy facilities. ### Warnings and enemy tactics As Ihnat noted, the military had warned in advance about an impending massive strike, evidenced by the activity of strategic aviation at base airfields. According to him, such strikes have become "routine" for Ukraine, and the enemy's overall tactics have not changed: the enemy takes into account what forces and assets the defense forces and the Air Force can deploy, as well as shortages of ammunition, anti-aircraft guided and aviation missiles, and weather conditions, based on which it selects directions and routes. ### Wave of jet-powered drones At the time of Ihnat's statement, an attack by jet-powered drones was ongoing, entering from the north and south — particularly through the Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Chernihiv regions — and heading mostly westward. Cruise missiles launched from aircraft, including from the Vologda Oblast area, entered through the eastern regions before moving toward the targets the enemy intended to attack. ### Results: interceptions and impacts According to data provided in the review, on the night of November 3, Russia launched missiles and 289 strike drones. Air defense forces shot down or suppressed 309 targets; however, missiles and drones hit 23 locations. Thus, despite large-scale interceptions, some of the weapons reached Ukrainian territory. ### Statement by the Russian Ministry of Defense Concurrently, RBC-Ukraine reported that the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed responsibility for strikes on the energy sector, stating that thermal power plants in the Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv regions, as well as Odesa ports, had been hit. These statements by the Russian side coincide in the timeframe with the 23 localized impacts recorded by the Ukrainian side. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Несколько волн ракет, много дронов: в ВСУ назвали особенности ночной атаки РФ](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/kilka-hvil-raket-bagato-droniv-zsu-nazvali-1793693312.html) - Primary source: statements by Air Force Spokesperson Yu. Ihnat on the telethon regarding attack waves, missile composition (Kh-101, Iskander-K, Zircon, Iskander-M/KN-23, Kh-59, Kh-69), prior warning, drone wave, and routes; as well as the summary: 289 drones launched, 309 targets shot down/suppressed, 23 locations hit; statement by the Russian Ministry of Defense regarding strikes on TPPs and ports. ## FAQ ### How many waves constituted Russia's nighttime strike on Ukraine? According to Air Force Spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat, the attack unfolded in several waves: ballistic missiles were used around three in the morning, and cruise missiles closer to morning. At the time of his statement, a wave of jet-powered drones was still ongoing. ### Which missiles, according to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, did Russia use? Ihnat named Kh-101 missiles from strategic aviation, Iskander-Ks, ballistic Zirkons, Iskander-Ms or KN-23s, as well as Kh-59 and Kh-69 guided aviation missiles. ### What are the interception outcomes based on the provided data? On the night of November 3, Russia launched missiles and 289 strike drones. Air defense forces shot down or suppressed 309 targets, while missiles and drones hit 23 locations.