Ukraine’s middle strike in October: 19 russian air defense, radar, and EW assets hit
In October 2026, the Defence Forces of Ukraine continued systematic middle strike operations against russian military facilities.
Based solely on figures published by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Ukrainian defenders hit the following over the past month:
- 19 air defense, electronic warfare (EW), and radar assets;
- 20 infrastructure facilities related to attack unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs);
- 27 command posts and command-and-observation posts;
- 47 depots storing ammunition, fuel, and materiel.
Eight strikes were also carried out on repair facilities and 36 on russian personnel concentration areas.
Systematic strikes on the russian military’s attack drone infrastructure
During October, the Defence Forces hit drone depots in Berdiansk, Siverskodonetsk, and Sverdlove and confirmed damage to four UAV storage facilities near Hvardiiske in temporarily occupied Crimea.
On October 28, three attack drone infrastructure facilities were hit near Navlya in russia’s Bryansk Oblast: a Geran drone depot, a drone port, and a fuel and lubricants depot.
This reduces the russian military’s ability to stockpile and launch attack UAVs to strike Ukraine, including its civilian infrastructure.
Weakening russian air defense: Buk-M3, Pantsir-S1, and Tor-M2 systems hit
In October, three surface-to-air systems were hit: a Buk-M3 in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a Pantsir-S1 in Krasnodar Krai, and a Tor-M2 in russia’s Kursk Oblast.
Ten radar stations and six EW stations in russia’s Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod oblasts were also hit.
Hitting these assets creates gaps in the enemy’s radar coverage, weakens its air defense, and expands the Defence Forces’ ability to use unmanned systems.
Destroying russian command-and-observation posts and telecommunications facilities
Among the targets hit were command posts and command-and-observation posts of russian units in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts, as well as in the russian federation.
Communications hubs and telecommunications infrastructure were also hit, including near Donetsk and Melitopol, along with two telecommunications towers in Crimea.
This makes it harder for the enemy to exchange information, coordinate units, and command its troops on the battlefield.
Disrupting russian logistics and supplies to occupying forces
Over the course of the month, the Defence Forces struck depots storing ammunition, fuel, and materiel in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts, as well as in Crimea.
Another target was a railway bridge over the Unecha River in russia’s Bryansk Oblast. Hitting it is expected to complicate the supply of ammunition, fuel, and equipment to russian troops.
Strikes on depots and transport infrastructure reduce the enemy’s stocks and complicate the sustainment of its frontline units.
Strikes on russian repair bases, equipment, and personnel
In October, strikes hit the russian military’s repair facilities in Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kherson oblasts, as well as in the russian federation.
They included a repair base for Iskander-M launchers and transporter-loader vehicles in Kursk Oblast, as well as a repair base for motor vehicles and armored vehicles of the Yug (South) Group of Forces near Sukhodilsk.
Two areas where weapons and military equipment were concentrated were also hit, along with 36 enemy personnel concentration areas. Targets included service members of the Rubikon UAV unit in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
Such strikes reduce the enemy’s resources and make it harder to repair damaged equipment and return it to combat units.
The Defence Forces of Ukraine continue systematic middle strike operations against enemy targets to reduce the russian military’s ability to strike Ukraine, hamper command and control of its troops and the supply of its units, and weaken russia’s capacity to sustain combat at the front.
As previously reported, middle strike operations by the Defence Forces in September hit more than 30 air defense, radar, and EW assets.
