For the first time in almost 50 days, Russian forces did not launch Shahed attack drones against Ukraine on the night of October 13-14, according to military sources cited by Ukrainska Pravda.
First Calm Night in 48 Days
The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed the absence of Shahed drone attacks during this period, marking a brief pause in the continuous nightly assaults Ukraine has endured in recent weeks.
Yurii Ihnat, the acting head of the Air Force Communications Department, stated that this was the first night in 48 days without any Shahed drone attacks from Russian forces.
The reason for this unexpected lull remains unclear, as the Air Force has not provided further details on the possible causes behind the pause in drone activity, according to Digi24.
Relentless Attack From Russia
Earlier in October, Ihnat noted that Russian forces had been increasingly using a different type of drone, one that Ukrainian electronic warfare systems frequently intercepted, causing them to crash without inflicting damage.
This shift in drone tactics could play a role in the sudden halt, but there has been no official confirmation.
Additionally, on October 9, Ukraine’s military reported a successful strike on Russian drone depots near the town of Yeysk. The targeted facilities, located in the village of Oktiabrskoie, were reportedly used to store approximately 400 Shahed drones.
Following the attack, explosions were observed at the depot, potentially disrupting Russia’s ability to carry out drone strikes.
Throughout September 2024, Ukraine faced relentless attacks from Russian Shahed drones, with 1,339 drones launched over the month. Of these, 1,107 were shot down by Ukrainian air defenses, while others were neutralized by electronic warfare devices.
This break in Shahed drone attacks offers a brief respite for Ukraine, though it remains to be seen if the pause is temporary or indicative of larger challenges facing Russia’s drone operations.
