Russia launched 80 attack drones against Ukraine overnight into December 10, 2025, with Ukrainian air defenses downing or suppressing 50 of the unmanned aerial vehicles. The remaining 29 drones struck targets at seven locations across the country.
The Attack
Russian forces launched the drones from Kursk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, and Millerovo in Russia, as well as from the Chauda training ground in temporarily occupied Crimea. Approximately 50 of the drones were Iranian-designed Shaheds, with the remainder identified as Gerbera and other types.
Ukraine’s aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups repelled the air assault. Air defenses shot down or suppressed 50 drones primarily in southern and eastern Ukraine.
Ukrainian troops recorded 29 drone impacts at seven locations. The Air Force warned that several Russian drones remained in Ukraine’s airspace as the attack continued into the morning.
Context
Air raid alerts were declared early on December 10 in Kyiv and several regions due to the threat of ballistic weapons from the northeast. The overnight strike is part of Russia’s intensified campaign against Ukrainian infrastructure and civilian targets throughout 2025.
Civilian casualties in Ukraine between January and November 2025 were 24 percent higher compared to the same period in 2024, according to UN officials. Earlier in December, a massive Russian drone and missile attack targeted energy and transport infrastructure across ten regions, leaving hundreds of thousands without power.
Overview
The December 10 drone strike demonstrates Russia’s continued reliance on Iranian-designed Shahed drones and other unmanned systems to target Ukrainian territory. Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepted the majority of the attacking drones, though nearly three dozen struck their intended targets.
