Russia attacked Ukraine with over 90 Shahed drones: what happened at night and why this raid is a new level of terror

The air is turning into a minefield and sleepless nights for millions: autumn began with one of the largest drone attacks in Ukraine

On September 6, 2025, Ukrainians woke up to the howling of alarms and the dull rhythm of air defense. More than 90 Shahed kamikaze drones in one night are not just a number: they are nerves that are stretched like a string and a real battle for life in every city and village under the southern and northern skies. Russia once again chose the night to sow chaos, intimidate and leave behind debris and holes in the roofs, but not in the stability of Ukrainian society ¹ .

Geography of the attack: targets were scattered across Ukraine

According to previous reports, the attack was launched from at least six directions: Russian occupation forces used launch pads in Kursk, Bryansk, Millerovo, Orel, Primorsko-Akhtarsk (Russian Federation) and from temporarily occupied Gvardiyske in Crimea. ² . The drones flew along a complex trajectory, maneuvering to bypass Ukrainian air defense systems and trying to confuse radar complexes. Sumy, Kharkiv, Vinnytsia, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Chernihiv, Cherkasy regions, and part of the central and southern regions were hit.

Air defense work: 68 drones shot down and dozens of lives saved

The Ukrainian Air Defense Forces worked at the limit of their physical capabilities that night. According to official reports from the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, they managed to destroy 68 attack UAVs; mobile groups with portable anti-aircraft systems and electronic warfare equipment were actively operating in several directions. ^{1 3} At the same time, not everything was successful this time: 18 “Shahed” hit the target, and in 4 more areas, the debris of downed drones caused local fires. ³ .

• The defense forces neutralized most of the devices that were heading towards critical infrastructure — electrical substations, railways, fuel depots.
• The interceptions proved particularly effective in the Sumy region, where almost all drones were shot down, while several effective strikes on logistics hubs and transformer substations were recorded in the Kharkiv and Vinnytsia regions.

Victims and consequences: who suffered the most

Despite the successes of the air defense, civilian infrastructure has once again suffered. According to the latest data, among the victims are residents of Sumy and Kharkiv regions, where the fragments of the “Shahed” caused fires in the residential sector and in warehouse areas. ^{3 4} .
In addition to economic losses, the attack also had side effects: power outages, disrupted railway lines, and partial mobile phone outages in a number of settlements in the northeast.

Echoes in Kyiv: the capital region felt the blow psychologically too

Kyiv region once again found itself on the list of targets. The threat to the capital was real: drones appeared over Brovary, Yagotyn, and Boryspil district ⁵ . At 22:07, an air alert began, which lasted for more than three hours, and air defense forces worked until late at night. Prompt warning, coordinated work of mobile groups and modern radar stations prevented major damage to the residential sector.

Residents of the Kyiv region were also instructed not to post photos and videos of air defense systems in action online, or to report the exact location of hits. Similar calls for information silence were heard throughout Ukraine: these little things really save lives.

Railways and energy: under the sights of Russian drones

One of the targets of the attack is railway junctions and substations. On the night of September 6, it was confirmed that at least three electrical substations in Sumy and Kharkiv regions were hit, and in Lozova there were disruptions in the work of the railway station, which led to a delay of trains for several hours. ³ .
Power engineers, rescuers, and emergency crews were on the scene. Thanks to the prompt actions, large-scale power outages were avoided, but dozens of settlements remained without power for several hours.

World reaction: support, sanctions, debate about F-16

Foreign leaders reacted to the attacks this morning. The President of the European Commission and the President of Lithuania condemned the strike as “another act of terror,” called for further air defense supplies and additional sanctions against Russia. ⁴ . The US once again called on Congress to support the accelerated transfer of new air defense systems to Ukraine and to speed up the training of pilots for the F-16. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant reminded that “all options remain on the table”, once again emphasizing readiness for new restrictive measures against Russian companies and banks.

The main political reaction to the 91 enemy drones was the intensification of discussions about closing the skies to key regions and accelerating the production of Western medium-range missiles in NATO countries.

Defense and civil resistance: reporting from the regions

Not only the military, but also civilians won that night. Most people consciously spent time in shelters, promptly responded to air raid sirens, and informed their relatives and neighbors. In many cities where debris fell after drones were shot down, residents independently helped the State Emergency Service and energy companies, organized shelters for the victims, and supported each other psychologically.

In parallel, mobile medical aid stations operated in several regions, and volunteer organizations provided hot meals for air defense forces.

What's special about this wave of attacks: trend analytics

The massive launch of 91 drones at night is a new technical and tactical level of asymmetric warfare. According to the Russian military, such raids exhaust Ukrainian air defenses, force them to waste expensive missiles, displace mobile groups from hot spots, and distract analysts.

However, an increasing proportion of drones are being shot down, and defense technologies are being improved literally every week. Ukraine is increasing its own production of electronic warfare equipment, cooperating with the Baltic countries to exchange experience, and also introducing an element of “smart air defense” — analysis of drone flight plans using AI to increase the accuracy and speed of response.

International background: why “killer drones” have become a new symbol of Russian aggression

Shahed-136 — Iranian-made, but adapted for Russian conditions. According to Western military experts, these drones are a cheap but massive weapon of attrition, which is especially dangerous for urban agglomerations and transport arteries. ⁴ .
Currently, debates are underway in many countries around the world: how to counter the tactics of UAV swarms, whether it is technologically possible to “cover” cities with dense layers of air defense in conditions of limited resources.

European countries are launching new research programs to develop anti-drone lasers, integrating counter-electronic warfare systems, and Ukraine's experience is becoming key for NATO partners.

Conclusion: The new reality of resistance

Six launch directions, 91 drones in the air, the work of our air defense to overcome fatigue of equipment and people - this is the reality of the modern Ukrainian night ^{1 3} A society that lives in a state of constant readiness becomes invincible: people who, despite threats, maintain faith, act in harmony, and help each other are the guarantee that no massive blow will break a nation.

Sources