Russia Strikes Ukraine with Shahed Drones: Regions Under Threat

Russia attacked Ukraine with Shahed drones on October 18, 2026, triggering air alerts and emergency power outages in some regions, with critical infrastructure switching to backup power sources. According to regional governor Natalia Zabolotna, emergency electricity shutdowns are in effect, and energy workers are working to restore supply, though the situation remains unstable. Ukraine's Air Force reported that from 7:30 to 19:30 on October 17, 157 attack drones were destroyed, including 25 jet-powered ones, along with six S-8000 missiles. Air defense shot down or suppressed 140 drones and six S-8000 missiles during that period. As of 22:00, about 30 attack drones remained in Ukrainian airspace, prompting authorities to urge residents not to ignore air raid warnings.