Russia, Ukraine report massive overnight drone, missile clashes

ISTANBUL

Russia and Ukraine said Wednesday they had repelled massive overnight air assaults, each claiming to have intercepted hundreds of drones and missiles in what officials described as one of the largest recent waves of attacks.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said air defenses shot down 105 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) across several regions and over the Sea of Azov.

“The largest number of drones – 25 – were shot down over the Rostov Region,” the ministry said, adding that others were destroyed over Bryansk, Krasnodar, Kaluga, Crimea, the Black Sea, Smolensk, and Azov waters.

Ukraine’s Air Force said its defenses neutralized 430 Russian drones, 14 Kalibr cruise missiles, and seven Kh-101 missiles out of 526 aerial vehicles launched against its territory.

“According to preliminary data, as of 9 am (0600GMT), the air defense system had shot down/suppressed 451 air targets,” the Air Force said, noting that several more UAVs remained in the air.

Kyiv reported that three missiles and 69 strike drones penetrated defenses and struck 14 locations, including the northern Chernihiv region, where the city of Nizhyn was left partially without power and water.

ISTANBUL

Russia’s Defense Ministry said air defenses shot down 105 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) across several regions and over the Sea of Azov.

Ukraine’s Air Force said its defenses neutralized 430 Russian drones, 14 Kalibr cruise missiles, and seven Kh-101 missiles out of 526 aerial vehicles launched against its territory.

“According to preliminary data, as of 9 am (0600GMT), the air defense system had shot down/suppressed 451 air targets,” the Air Force said, noting that several more UAVs remained in the air.