Night attack of 90 drones on Ukraine: 76 shot down, hits in 9 locations

While parts of the country were still waking up, the skies over Ukraine were already filled with Shaheds and other strike drones. The defense forces shot down most of them, but a few dozen were enough to remind us once again that massive nighttime attacks have become a routine tool of terror and attrition for Russia.

On the night of February 1, 2026, Russia attacked Ukraine with 90 strike drones of several types - Iranian Shahed, as well as Geran/Gerbera, Italmas and other modifications of the same line.¹ According to data released by the Air Force Command this morning, Ukrainian air defenses were able to shoot down or suppress 76 enemy UAVs over the northern and eastern regions, but some of the drones reached their targets.¹ . 14 hits were recorded in 9 different locations, as well as the fall of fragments of downed aircraft in two more places - restoration work is ongoing, information about the consequences is being clarified¹ .

What the night attack looked like: route and types of targets

The Air Force reported that the strike was carried out in a combined manner: the drones came in mainly from the north and east, changing their altitude and route to complicate the work of the air defense.¹ The main type of strike UAVs remains the Shahed – according to preliminary estimates, about 60 out of 90 devices were of this model, the rest are other Russian and Iranian-made loitering munitions.¹ The strike was delivered in waves, stretched out over time to exhaust the calculations and force the air defenses to operate almost continuously.

According to the military, the main targets remained energy and critical infrastructure, as well as military logistics facilities - warehouses, railway junctions, industrial facilities in the depths of the territory.¹ This attack profile corresponds to the Russian Federation's winter tactics: against the backdrop of cold weather, the enemy seeks to create maximum pressure on the power system and the population, forcing Ukraine to spend resources on repairs and backup power supply schemes.

Air defense work: aviation, air defense systems, electronic warfare and mobile groups

All key elements of air and missile defense were involved in repelling the night attack: fighter and attack aircraft, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare calculations, unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces.¹ It was the combination of these components that made it possible to achieve a high percentage of downings – 76 out of 90 drones, despite the scale and protracted nature of the attack.¹ Mobile groups in pickup trucks and trucks armed with heavy machine guns and anti-aircraft guns have traditionally played a key role on the approaches to large cities.

Electronic warfare and radio reconnaissance equipment worked to throw the aircraft off course and make it difficult to guide them, especially in densely populated regions.¹ . Some of the drones were not only physically destroyed, but also “suppressed” – deprived of the ability to perform a combat mission, forcing them to crash in undeveloped areas. This tactic allows to reduce the cost of expensive air defense missiles and at the same time maintain protection for critical areas.

Losses and damage: what is known as of this morning

As of the morning of February 1, the Air Force confirmed 14 hits in 9 different locations across Ukraine.¹ . In a number of cases, industrial facilities and infrastructure are involved, but the final extent of the damage is traditionally specified by local military administrations and energy companies. In some cases, falling debris from downed drones has damaged residential buildings and civilian infrastructure, particularly in small settlements.

The emphasis on civilian safety was also voiced in the morning address of the Air Force: the command called on citizens not to ignore air alerts, not to film the work of air defense from their windows and roofs, and not to post online videos of drones flying and falling before the attack is over.¹ Such materials can help the enemy adjust routes and assess the effectiveness of their strikes.

Why Russia is betting on massive drone attacks

The attack by 90 strike UAVs is not a random episode, but part of the Russian Federation's systemic strategy. Shahed-type drones and their Russian variations have become a tool of "cheap mass pressure" for Moscow: they are much cheaper than cruise missiles, can be mass-produced in cooperation with Iran, and allow them to exhaust air defenses, forcing Ukraine to spend more expensive means of interception.¹ In addition, drones are easier to camouflage, reroute, and combine with missile strikes.

The winter period adds additional weight to these attacks: damage to transformers, distribution substations, and thermal facilities directly affects the ability of cities to survive frosty days.¹ Russia is trying to repeat the scenario of massive strikes on the energy sector in 2022–2023, but now it is encountering a more prepared air defense and energy system protection system, in particular thanks to the experience of past winters and the help of partners.

Ukrainian air defense: record of the month and exhaustion of the enemy

On the eve of the night attack, the Air Force reported that in January alone, Ukrainian air defense destroyed 9707 air targets of various types - from drones to missiles.¹ This figure reflects both the intensity of Russian attacks and the increase in defense capabilities: an increasing percentage of air targets are being intercepted before they approach major cities or critical facilities.

For Russia, this means that each new wave of attacks brings less and less military effect at increasing costs. Destroying dozens of drones in the air is not only a foiled plan for a particular night, but also a gradual depletion of the enemy's reserves and production capabilities, especially in the segment of import-dependent components that are difficult to replace.¹ At the same time, Ukraine is forced to equally increase and modernize its air defense, because even a 10–20% breakthrough of a massive attack can cause serious damage.

The role of international aid: from Patriot to small systems

The night attack once again demonstrated that the Ukrainian air defense model consists not only of large systems like Patriot or SAMP/T, but also of an extensive network of smaller complexes and mobile groups.¹ . High-precision long-range anti-aircraft systems are critically important for intercepting missiles and some drones at long distances, but it is medium and small systems, as well as mobile groups with small arms, that “close” drones on the last leg of their flight.

The supply of new air defense assistance packages from allies – from radars and anti-aircraft systems to ammunition – directly affects the effectiveness of repelling such attacks.¹ Every night when the Ukrainian sky endures is not only the merit of our own developments and tactics, but also the result of political decisions in the capitals of our partners.

Psychological dimension: living under the constant hum of drones

Massive night attacks have an obvious psychological effect: they tire, exhaust, force millions of people to wake up to sirens and explosions, and spend part of the night in shelters.¹ . For the enemy, this is a way to keep society in constant tension, pushing it towards apathy or irritation. For Ukraine, this is another reason to build a culture of resilience: from the habit of keeping a basic “alarm backpack” at the ready to understanding how to properly handle debris and unexploded ordnance.

At the same time, each new night, when most drones do not reach their targets, also forms an important psychological signal: air defense is working, the sky is not defenseless.¹ That is why the military systematically shows videos of drone downings, records statistics of successful interceptions, and publishes data on destroyed targets – this is part of the information work aimed at maintaining trust and faith in defense.

Why it's important not to relax after a "successful night"

The fact that 76 out of 90 drones were shot down or suppressed does not mean that such attacks can be perceived as a “new normal” that we should simply get used to.¹ . Each air defense breakthrough means concrete destruction, wounded or killed, destroyed homes and businesses. Russia continues to look for weak spots: changing routes, types of carriers, time of arrival at targets, combining drones with missiles or strike UAVs of a different class.

Therefore, it remains important not only to increase the technical capabilities of air defense, but also to discipline citizens: following the rules during an alarm, responsible handling of information, and readiness for possible long power outages in certain regions.¹ In this war of attrition, every element plays a role – from the air defense system operator to the person who went down to the shelter in time and wasn't standing on the balcony with the camera.

Sources

1. Censor.NET: news item "At night, the Russian Federation attacked Ukraine with 90 UAVs: how many were shot down by air defense" with data from the Air Force Command on the types of drones, the scale of the attack, the work of air defense, and the number of targets shot down and hits.