MOSCOW: Russia’s defence ministry reported on Friday that 19 Ukrainian drones were shot down over various regions and the Black Sea overnight in an attempt to commit a terrorist attack on Russian territory.
The ministry stated that the drones were intercepted and destroyed by air defence systems in regions including Kursk, Bryansk, Oryol, Krasnodar, and over the Black Sea. Among these, drones in Oryol were targeting energy infrastructure, according to regional governor Andrei Klychkov.
In Krasnodar, a fire broke out overnight at an oil refinery in Ilsky, though it wasn’t explicitly confirmed whether this incident was linked to the drone attack, as per rescue services.
Ukraine has been increasingly conducting drone attacks on Russian territory in recent months, focusing primarily on border regions but also targeting Moscow and Saint Petersburg. The deadliest attack occurred in Belgorod on December 30, resulting in casualties and evacuations.
Russia has been subject to persistent aerial bombardment by Ukrainian forces for nearly two years, leading to significant casualties and damage. Ukraine has sought support from Western allies to strengthen its defensive capabilities amid ongoing hostilities.
