Russia’s military intercepted 389 Ukrainian drones during what officials described as the most extensive nighttime assault since the conflict began more than four years ago, the Defense Ministry announced Wednesday.
The intercepted aircraft targeted 13 different Russian territories along with the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014.
The massive drone operation demonstrates Ukraine’s advancing abilities in creating and producing long-distance unmanned aircraft within its own borders.
This aerial assault followed Russia’s own major offensive just one day earlier, when Moscow launched nearly 1,000 drones and 34 missiles targeting Ukrainian civilian locations over a 24-hour period. The Russian bombardment extended beyond typical nighttime operations into daytime hours, marking one of the war’s most intensive air campaigns. Ukrainian officials reported at least 6 fatalities and approximately 50 wounded from the Russian strikes.
In the Leningrad region located north of Moscow, Governor Alexander Drozdenko confirmed that 56 drones were neutralized, with a resulting fire at the Baltic Sea port facility of Ust-Luga.
Ukrainian military forces also conducted a missile attack against the Belgorod region along the Ukrainian border during the overnight hours, causing damage to power infrastructure, according to Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. The strike disrupted electrical service, water systems, and heating for residents in the area.
Russia’s Tuesday offensive involved launching 948 various types of drones against Ukrainian targets.
