MOSCOW: Russia on Friday claimed that its air defence systems intercepted 660 Ukrainian drones during a large-scale overnight assault targeting 12 regions of the country, as well as the annexed Crimean peninsula, the Black Sea, and the Azov Sea.
According to the Russian Defence Ministry, the barrage represents one of the most extensive drone attacks launched by Ukraine since the start of Moscow’s full-scale invasion more than four years ago. The ministry said the majority of drones were neutralised before reaching their targets.
Russian officials reported scattered damage across several regions. In the Tula region south of Moscow, a residential property was damaged and a woman sustained injuries. Local authorities also reported disruptions to power infrastructure and damage to an unspecified industrial facility in Novomoskovsk.
Independent media outlets in Russia claimed that a chemical plant and a hydroelectric facility in the same area may have been struck, though these reports remain unverified. Moscow’s mayor said dozens of drones were intercepted while approaching the capital, with no casualties or damage reported in the city.
The wave of drone attacks comes amid an intensified Ukrainian campaign targeting Russian territory and infrastructure. Ukrainian forces have increasingly relied on long-range drones to strike energy installations, industrial sites, and military logistics hubs deep inside Russia, aiming to disrupt supply chains and pressure Moscow’s war effort.
The escalation followed remarks by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who said he had ordered a “40-day influence operation” intended to increase pressure on Russia and push it towards ending the conflict.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials reported continued Russian attacks on their territory. In the Kharkiv region, local authorities said two civilians were killed and seven injured over the past 24 hours following Russian strikes involving guided aerial bombs and drones across multiple settlements.
Ukraine’s air force said it intercepted 174 out of 189 incoming Russian drones overnight, but acknowledged that several ballistic missiles managed to penetrate air defences and struck unspecified locations.
As both sides intensify long-range strikes, the aerial dimension of the conflict continues to expand, with growing civilian and infrastructure impact reported on both sides of the border.
