Russian air defences intercepted 77 Ukrainian drones overnight, targeting regions across southern and central Russia and annexed Crimea, as cross-border strikes intensify.
MOSCOW: Russia’s defence ministry said its air defences destroyed 77 Ukrainian drones launched overnight.
The drones were downed over seven regions in southern and central Russia and over Russian-annexed Crimea.
A power transmission tower was damaged in the Rostov region bordering Ukraine.
Rostov Governor Yuri Slyusar said about 250 residents were left without electricity, but no one was injured.
The defence ministry stated 42 drones were destroyed over the Saratov region and 12 over the Rostov region.
Russian authorities rarely disclose the full extent of damage from such attacks.
The war has increasingly featured long-range drone and missile strikes far from the front lines.
Each side seeks to hit military, logistics and energy assets deep in the other’s territory.
Moscow has carried out sustained attacks on Ukraine’s power grid in past winters.
Kyiv has stepped up drone attacks on oil depots and airfields inside Russia, calling them a legitimate response.
