Almost 160 Ukrainian drones downed overnight, says Russia

Russia has said its air defences intercepted and destroyed 158 Ukrainian drones overnight into Sunday, including two over Moscow and nine over the surrounding region.

Forty-six were over the Kursk region, where Ukraine has sent its forces in recent weeks in the largest incursion on to Russian soil since the Second World War.

A further 34 were over the Bryansk region, 28 over the Voronezh region, and 14 over the Belgorod region – all of which border Ukraine.

Drones were also shot down deeper into Russia, including one each in the Tver region, north-west of Moscow, and Ivanovo, north-east of Moscow.

The defence ministry said drones were intercepted over 15 regions into Sunday, while one other governor said a drone was shot down over his region too.

Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said falling debris from one of the two drones shot down over the city caused a fire at an oil refinery.

Ukrainian drone strikes have brought the fight far from the front line into the heart of Russia. Since the beginning of the year, Ukraine has stepped up aerial assaults on Russian soil, targeting refineries and oil terminals to slow down the Kremlin’s assault.

Published: 01/09/2024 by Radio NewsHub