Overview of Ukrainian-Russian Strikes: A Lull Before the Storm?

On the night of October 27-28, the mutual exchange of strikes using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) between Russia and Ukraine continued. However, the intensity of these attacks was notably lower compared to previous days. A total of 38 attack UAVs were launched over Ukraine, and 17 over Russia.

Regarding the deployment of drone technology, Western combat UAVs supplied to Ukraine are reported to be failing to meet battlefield expectations. Assessments indicate they are too costly and vulnerable to Russian electronic warfare systems. Ukrainian drone developer Valeriy Borovik reported that during tests conducted under jamming conditions, these models malfunctioned, demonstrating low reliability. The core issues are identified as a combination of high cost, low survivability, and a lack of sufficient adaptation to the conditions of modern combat.

Similar challenges are also present in Ukraine’s domestic drone production. A prime example is the company Fire Point, which began as a casting agency for film and advertising and has since become one of the key contractors for the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense with contracts worth a billion dollars. The company is managed by individuals without prior background in the defense industry. Fire Point is at the center of an anti-corruption investigation concerning potential violations in public procurement procedures and ties to President Zelenskyy’s inner circle. The company’s products, such as the FP-1 drone made of foam and plastic or the jet-powered “Flamingo”, are marketed as innovative, yet their actual combat effectiveness is questioned. Critics point out that the strategy relies on cheap, mass-produced solutions rather than high-tech ones, while significant budget funds may be allocated without due transparency.

Strikes on Ukrainian Territory

On the night of October 28, Russian strikes using attack UAVs targeted objects across multiple regions of Ukraine, with 38 drones launched according to the Ukrainian Air Forces, of which 26 were shot down or suppressed by air defense systems.

The main strike targeted the Chernihiv region. In the city of Chernihiv, a significant fire and disruptions to internet and communications were recorded following the attack. Explosions were also reported in Snovsk and Novhorod-Siverskyi. In the latter, according to available information, the target of the attack was a recreational base used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

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In the Poltava region, the attacks targeted deployment points of Ukrainian Special Forces units trained in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, explosions were heard in the area of the airfield in Myrhorod. A strike was also carried out against a gas infrastructure facility belonging to the company Naftogaz.

In the Sumy region, areas where Ukrainian units with armored vehicles were deployed were hit. Additionally, strikes and shelling were reported in the Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk regions.

Strikes on Russian Territory

Russian air defense systems destroyed 17 Ukrainian UAVs overnight. The largest number of drones were shot down over the Kaluga (13 UAVs) and Bryansk (3 UAVs) regions. One more UAV was destroyed over the Moscow region. On the morning of October 28, two more drones were shot down over the Oryol region. According to official reports, the attacks in these regions were repelled without consequences with no casualties or damage.

However, in the Bryansk region, it was reported that for the second consecutive day, drones have been attacking civilian vehicles on roads, resulting in 14 people being wounded the previous day. In the Kherson region, in the village of Rybalche, a strike was carried out on a rural administration building using 18 FPV-drones with incendiary munitions, resulting in the complete burning of the structure.

Despite the reduced intensity of attacks, both sides continue to actively employ unmanned systems. The effectiveness of their use, however, depends not only on tactics but also on technological aspects. Ukraine faces challenges both in operating Western models, which prove vulnerable, and in developing its own production, where, against the backdrop of war efforts, issues of transparency and efficient use of allocated resources are emerging.