MOSCOW: Russia claimed on Thursday that its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 605 Ukrainian drones during a massive overnight attack targeting several regions of the country and the Russian-annexed Crimean Peninsula.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, the drones were shot down during coordinated overnight operations, making it one of the largest reported Ukrainian drone assaults since the conflict began.
The ministry said the drones were intercepted over multiple regions, including Tver and Yaroslavl, as well as Crimea. Russian officials described the attack as a large-scale attempt to strike infrastructure and strategic locations.
In the Tver region, located around 180 kilometres northwest of Moscow, Governor Vitaly Korolyov said air defence units successfully repelled the attack. However, debris from one of the intercepted drones fell onto a logistics centre operated by Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer, causing minor damage to the building’s facade.
Korolyov said no injuries were reported and emergency services quickly secured the area. Wildberries facilities have reportedly been targeted several times by Ukrainian drones since mid-July.
The Yaroslavl region, approximately 250 kilometres north of Moscow, also came under heavy attack. Governor Mikhail Yevrayev said the region experienced its largest drone assault to date, with Russian air defences destroying 92 drones.
He added that falling debris sparked fires in several residential buildings and damaged parked vehicles. Emergency crews responded promptly, while authorities did not immediately report any deaths or serious injuries.
The latest drone offensive underscores the growing reliance on long-range aerial attacks by both Russia and Ukraine as the war continues with no sign of a diplomatic breakthrough.
More than four years into the conflict, both countries have intensified cross-border drone and missile strikes targeting military facilities, logistics hubs and infrastructure. The continued escalation has increased security concerns and led to mounting civilian casualties and property damage on both sides.
Despite ongoing international efforts to encourage negotiations, peace talks remain stalled, with both Moscow and Kyiv continuing military operations while strengthening their long-range strike capabilities.
