Russia has announced that its air defence systems intercepted and downed 101 Ukrainian drones overnight, with minimal damage and no reported casualties, according to the country’s defence ministry.
In a statement on Saturday, the Russian defence ministry revealed: “One hundred and one Ukrainian fixed-wing UAVs were destroyed and intercepted by the air defence systems on duty.” The announcement was made via Telegram.
The Bryansk region, which borders Ukraine, saw 53 drones shot down, with its governor confirming no reports of damage or injuries in the area.
An additional 18 drones were intercepted over Krasnodar, a region neighbouring Crimea, the Ukrainian territory annexed by Russia in 2014. According to Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratyev, falling debris from one drone ignited a fire in the Tikhoretsky district, which subsequently spread to explosive materials. Residents were evacuated as a precaution, though no casualties were reported.
Russian authorities have been reporting the downing of Ukrainian drones on an almost daily basis, as Kyiv continues what it calls retaliatory strikes in response to Russia’s ongoing offensive, which began in February 2022.