Russia Says Ukraine Just Launched Its Biggest Strike of the War—1,750 Drones and 17 Flamingo Missiles

Ukraine launched what Russia described as the largest combined drone and missile strike of the war, with 1,750 fixed-wing UAVs and 17 Flamingo cruise missiles allegedly used against targets across Russia over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed on October 6.

Moscow also said its air defenses intercepted two guided aerial bombs and one HIMARS rocket during the same period. The figures have not been independently verified.

If accurate, the drone count would exceed Ukraine’s previous reported record from August 18, when Russian authorities said 1,671 UAVs were detected over 15 regions, occupied Crimea, and the Black and Azov seas.

The reported use of 17 Flamingo cruise missiles would also represent a major jump from earlier strikes, when launches were generally reported in groups of three to six.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said 11 regions, occupied Crimea, and targets over the Azov Sea came under attack overnight.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 650 drones were flying toward the Russian capital during the attack. He initially reported 105 intercepted on approach to Moscow and later said another 68 had been destroyed.

Moscow region Governor Andrei Vorobyov said 185 UAVs were intercepted across 16 municipalities.

Russian authorities also reported damage to 47 private homes in Volokolamsk, Stupino, Dmitrov, Naro-Fominsk, Serpukhov, Domodedovo and Istra, as well as damage to an apartment building in the village of Lobanovo.

The scale of the overnight attack also caused major disruption at Moscow’s airports, where more than 200 flights were delayed or canceled after midnight.

Sheremetyevo saw the largest impact, with about 47 departing flights and 106 arrivals affected. Another 28 departures and 23 arrivals were disrupted at Vnukovo, while Domodedovo reported changes to four flights.

Previous reports indicated that Ukrainian forces recorded more than 11,000 confirmed strikes against Russian targets located over 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the front line in September, while also hitting a record number of Russian air defense systems.

September marked the first time the number of confirmed strikes beyond 20 kilometers exceeded 11,000 in a single month. Ukrainian forces also recorded their highest number of strikes against targets located more than 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the front.

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