Analysts record huge rise in Russian glide bomb, missile and drone strikes on Ukraine in 2025

Russia has launched over 60,000 glide bombs, 2,400 missiles and over 100,000 drones at targets in Ukraine this year, according to United24, a Ukrainian presidential initiative which raises funds for the country’s defence against the ongoing Russian invasion.

For comparison, Russia only launched approximately 15,000 drones against Ukraine in the whole of 2023 and 2024 combined according to a study by the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

Analysts at United24 have recorded at least 19,000 air raid warnings across the country this year, it said, with the eastern Kharkiv region having the most — 2,020 — in 2025.

“Each day has brought fresh destruction and civilian losses. The relentless attacks have destroyed civilian and energy infrastructure, and turned people’s lives into a fight for survival,” United24 said.

Earlier in December, an investigation by Novaya Gazeta Europe found that around 8,300 war-related incidents had been recorded on Russian territory since the start of 2025. Of these, 48% — around 4,000 — were drone strikes, while 41%, or 3,400, involved drones being intercepted by air defence systems. The number of drone strikes on Russia rose by at least a third this year.

Missile and artillery strikes accounted for roughly 3%, or about 250 incidents, and ground combat operations for 7%, or about 560 events. The remaining events were naval attacks and air strikes.