Russia attacks Ukraine with Iskander-K missiles and 186 drones

Russia launched a combined attack on Ukraine with Iskander-K missiles and 186 drones overnight on 20–21 October. The assault began at 18:00 on 20 October.

Ukrainian air defences destroyed or jammed 150 UAVs. As of 08:30, 10 attack drones remained airborne and the response was continuing.

Drone launch sites and weapons

Russian forces used Shahed drones, including 88 jet-powered models, as well as Gerbera drones, S-8000 Banderol/Dan-T missiles and Parodiya decoys. The UAVs were launched from Oryol, Kursk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, temporarily occupied Donetsk, Chauda and Hvardiiske in Crimea.

The Iskander-K cruise missiles were launched from airspace over Rostov Oblast. The number fired and the number intercepted were not reported.

Damage reported in Kyiv

Russian drones attacked Kyiv from the evening of 20 October into the morning of 21 October. At about 07:00, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said a UAV struck a 24-storey residential building in the Sviatoshynskyi district at the level of the 19th floor, causing a fire.

Parked cars caught fire in the Desnianskyi district after a drone crashed onto them. In the Solomianskyi district, a strike on a transport infrastructure facility caused a fire, while another drone reportedly fell in an open area.

Reported strike locations

Aircraft, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare assets, unmanned-systems units and mobile fire groups took part in repelling the attack. Aerial strikes were recorded at 27 locations, while debris from downed targets fell at 13 locations.