A sharp decline in the number of Ukrainian drones launched against Russian regions is likely linked to Russian strikes on production and storage facilities, according to military analyst and retired colonel Anatoly Matviychuk.

He suggested that Ukrainian forces may now have fewer combat-ready UAVs after Russian troops targeted facilities and warehouses connected with drone production and storage.

According to official data from the Russian Defense Ministry, Russian air defenses intercepted and destroyed 71 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones during the night of September 15–16. Previously, the number of drones launched toward Russia had reached the hundreds.

Matviychuk attributed the decline to a possible shortage of ready-to-use UAVs following what he described as effective strikes on drone manufacturing sites and storage facilities.

At the same time, he did not rule out another possibility. The analyst said Ukraine could be building up drone reserves for future attacks while waiting for new supplies from Europe.