In September 2025, russia launched approximately 5,500 one-way attack unmanned aerial systems (OWA UAS) against Ukraine. This is a significant increase on the 4,100 launched in August 2025, which was almost certainly limited due to russia attempting to demonstrate a purported willingness to take part in meaningful negotiations. So far in October 2025, russia has already launched more than 3,000 OWA UAS, the UK Defense Intelligence reports.
Russia maintains a high strike tempo, having conducted four large scale strike packages using its long range aviation bomber fleet in September 2025. This includes September 7, 2025, strike that saw more than 800 munitions launched, predominantly OWA UAS.
Read more: UK Defense Intelligence: russia's Daily Casualties Top 1,000 Again Amid Renewed Fighting
This combination of premier missiles alongside mass OWA UAS attempts to complicate Ukrainian air defense efforts and increase the survivability of russian munitions. Russia launched more than 70 of its premier Kh-101 air-launched cruise missiles against targets in Ukraine in September 2025.
Ukraine's critical national infrastructure (CNI) has almost certainly become russia's priority target, with russia attempting to degrade Ukraine's energy network ahead of the winter period, as it has done previously in the conflict. Russia has conducted four large scale strikes against Ukraine's CNI network so far in October 2025.
As Defense Express previously reported, it is likely that the russian Ground Forces (RGF) seized approximately 250 sq km of Ukrainian territory in September 2025, a notable decrease from the approximately 465 sq km taken in August 2025. This follows moderate month on month decreases in ground taken from June 2025 to August 2025.
Read more: UK Defense Intelligence: russian Advances Shrink as Forces Redeploy Across the Front
