Ukraine's air defence forces down five ballistic missiles, 155 drones in overnight Russian attack

Ukraine's air defence forces (ADF) neutralised five ballistic missiles and 155 drones used by Russian forces in an attack on Ukraine overnight from the evening of September 29, according to a report by Ukrinform, Ukraine's state news agency.

The overnight barrage adds to a pattern of large-scale combined missile and drone attacks that Russian forces have carried out against Ukraine throughout the ongoing war, targeting a range of infrastructure and populated areas across the country. Ukraine's air defence network, which combines domestically produced systems with equipment and interceptor missiles supplied by international partners, has continued to intercept a significant share of these attacks.

Sustained pressure on air defences

The scale of the overnight attack — five ballistic missiles alongside 155 drones — reflects the continued intensity of Russian aerial strikes, which have combined cheaper drone attacks with more sophisticated and harder-to-intercept ballistic missiles in an effort to overwhelm Ukrainian air defences. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly stressed the importance of continued Western support in air defence systems and interceptor munitions to sustain the country's ability to counter such attacks.

Further details on the specific targets of the overnight attack, any resulting damage, or casualties were not included in the report. Ukrainian authorities typically release fuller damage assessments in the hours following such attacks as local authorities complete their reviews.