Ukraine’s air defences shoot down over 100 drones in overnight attacks PHOTO

Ukraine’s air defence forces say they shot down and neutralised more than 100 drones during overnight attacks on December 19.

According to the Ukrainian Air Forces, Russian forces launched 160 strike drones overnight, including around 90 Shahed drones.

Air defence units reportedly destroyed or suppressed 108 drones across the south and east of the country, while 47 drones were recorded striking targets at 23 different locations.

Russia has intensified its use of long-range strike drones, particularly Iranian-designed Shahed-type kamikaze UAVs (often rebranded as Geran-2 in Russian service), as a core element of its aerial campaign against Ukraine throughout 2025.

These low-cost, slow-flying drones are typically launched in large swarms overnight to overwhelm air defences, target critical infrastructure such as energy facilities, ports, and railways, and cause widespread disruption. 

Russia has significantly ramped up production and deployment, launching tens of thousands of drones over the course of the year, with monthly figures exceeding 5,000 in some periods.

By Aghakazim Guliyev