Russian air defenses intercepted and destroyed 158 Ukrainian drones overnight, including two over the city of Moscow and nine over the surrounding Moscow region, the defense ministry said Sunday.
Forty-six of the drones were over the Kursk region, where Ukraine has sent its forces in recent weeks in the largest incursion onto Russian soil since World War II. A further were 34 over the Bryansk region, 28 over the Voronezh region, and 14 over the Belgorod region — all of which border Ukraine.
Drones were also shot down deeper into Russia, including one each in the Tver region, northwest of Moscow, and the Ivanovo region, northeast of the Russian capital. Russia’s Defense Ministry said drones were intercepted over 15 regions, while one other governor said a drone was shot down over his region, too.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that falling debris from one of the two drones shot down over the city caused a fire at an oil refinery.
Ukrainian drone strikes have brought the fight far from the front line into the heart of Russia. Since the beginning of the year, Ukraine has stepped up aerial assaults on Russian soil, targeting refineries and oil terminals to slow down the Kremlin’s assault.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Ministry of Defense said Sunday it had taken control of the towns of Pivnichne and Vyimka, in Ukraine’s Donetsk region. The Associated Press could not independently verify the claim.
Russian forces have been driving deeper into the partly occupied eastern region, the total capture of which is one of the Kremlin’s primary ambitions. Russia’s army is closing in on Pokrovsk, a critical logistics hub for the Ukrainian defense in the area.
In Ukraine overnight, eight drones were shot down out of 11 launched by Russia, according to the Ukrainian air force.
One person was killed and and four wounded in shelling in the Sumy region, local officials said, while Kharkiv Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said five people were wounded in shelling in his region.
In a recent development in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Russian forces have claimed to have shot down 150 drones in a major drone attack launched by Ukrainian forces. The incident, which took place near the border between the two countries, marks a significant escalation in the use of drones in warfare.
According to Russian military officials, the drones were launched by Ukrainian forces in an attempt to target Russian military positions and infrastructure. The drones were reportedly equipped with explosives and were intended to cause significant damage to Russian forces.
In response to the drone attack, Russian forces deployed anti-aircraft systems and fighter jets to intercept and shoot down the drones. The successful interception of 150 drones is a testament to the effectiveness of Russia’s air defense capabilities.
The use of drones in warfare has become increasingly common in recent years, with both state and non-state actors utilizing them for reconnaissance, surveillance, and even offensive operations. Drones offer a number of advantages on the battlefield, including the ability to strike targets with precision and conduct operations without putting human lives at risk.
However, the use of drones also poses significant challenges for military forces, as they are difficult to detect and intercept. In this case, Russian forces were able to successfully neutralize the threat posed by the Ukrainian drones, but it is likely that both sides will continue to develop and deploy drone technology in future conflicts.
The incident highlights the evolving nature of warfare in the 21st century, where advanced technology such as drones plays an increasingly important role. As countries around the world continue to invest in developing their drone capabilities, it is clear that drones will play a significant role in shaping the future of warfare.
In conclusion, the shooting down of 150 drones by Russian forces in response to a major drone attack by Ukrainian forces is a stark reminder of the changing nature of warfare in the modern era. As technology continues to advance, military forces will need to adapt and develop new strategies to effectively counter emerging threats posed by drones and other advanced technologies.
