The Russian Ministry of Defense reported the neutralization of 32 drones over the regions of the country overnight.
“During the past night, duty air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 23 Ukrainian aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles,” follows from the department’s statement on Telegram.
In particular, 10 UAVs were intercepted over the territory of Belgorod region, 10 UAVs – over the Black Sea and 3 UAVs – over the territory of the Bryansk region.
In addition, in the period from 07:00 Moscow time to 08:00 Moscow time, duty air defense systems destroyed 9 more Ukrainian UAVs over the Black Sea.
UAV attacks on Russian regions began in 2022 year against the background of “special military operations” in Ukraine.
Kyiv has not officially confirmed its involvement, but in August 2023, the adviser to the head of the office of the Ukrainian president, Mikhail Podolyak, said that the number of UAV strikes on Russia “will increase.”
At the beginning of March 2023, President Vladimir Zelensky said that the whole world is seeing the results of Ukraine’s use of drones of its own production against strategic targets in Russia. “I think everyone sees that our drones work. And they work long-range. Our long-range is a real approach to security for everyone,” the head of the Ukrainian state said in a video message after a massive drone attack on the regions of the Russian Federation, including the Moscow region.
Zelensky emphasized that “Ukraine will inflict retaliatory losses on the Russian state – quite rightly.”