Ukrainian drones strike a Russian missile plant as Kyiv says Moscow suffered 54,400 casualties in its deadliest month

From the Newshound archive · first published 1 November 2026.

Ukraine struck the Rostov solid-propellant and air-defence manufacturing plant as Kyiv simultaneously published data showing October had been Russia's bloodiest month of the war, with 54,400 casualties — topping the previous record of 48,670, set in December 2024. The Ukrainian general staff cautioned that Russian recruitment can no longer keep pace with frontline losses, and put total Russian casualties since 2022 at above 1.5 million. Russia struck back with a wave of 433 drones aimed at Ukraine's energy grid overnight, leaving 280,000 homes without power as winter approaches.

More than 100 Ukrainian drones also struck Kstovo, an industrial hub east of Moscow that processes five per cent of Russia's crude oil.