Russia Downs Dozens of Ukrainian Drones in Overnight Attacks

The Russian military announced the interception of 39 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) overnight and into Monday morning. The Defense Ministry stated that Russian air defenses had successfully downed numerous Ukrainian drones, including several that were targeting Moscow.

The military detailed the locations of the intercepted drones. Seven were intercepted over the Belgorod Region, five each over the Bryansk and Kaluga regions, four over Crimea, two each over the Orlov, Kursk, Voronezh, Ryazan, and Moscow regions, and one over the Tula Region. The Ministry of Defense (MOD) reported that a total of 32 drones were destroyed during the night.

Shortly after the initial report, the ministry announced the interception of an additional seven Ukrainian UAVs. These were intercepted over Crimea (four), Nizhny Novgorod Region (two), and Belgorod (one).

Later, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported that Russian air defenses had destroyed seven more drones approaching the capital. He indicated that the UAVs were downed in separate incidents and that emergency services were on-site. No casualties or damage were reported.

The Russian Defense Ministry subsequently reported the destruction of 20 more drones between 7 am and 1 pm on Monday. These were downed over the Kaluga, Bryansk, and Moscow regions, as well as over the Black Sea.

In recent months, Ukrainian forces have increased their long-range drone operations, targeting border areas and infrastructure within Russia. Moscow has responded with what it describes as precision strikes on Ukrainian military facilities, maintaining that its operations do not target civilians.

Russian air defense units frequently report intercepting large numbers of drones daily. However, falling debris has caused injuries, property damage, and disruptions to essential services.

Amidst the ongoing conflict, Ukraine faces increasing pressure to negotiate a settlement with Moscow. Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected a US proposal that suggested considering territorial concessions in exchange for a ceasefire.