The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the interception and destruction of 75 Ukrainian drones targeting its territory overnight.
The majority of these drones, 47 in total, were neutralized over the Rostov region, which borders Ukraine.
Additionally, 17 drones were downed over the Azov and Black Seas, with another eight intercepted in the Krasnodar region’s airspace.
The defense ministry’s statement further detailed successful interceptions in the Belgorod, Voronezh, and Smolensk regions, showcasing a widespread defensive response across multiple areas bordering Ukraine.
This significant military action underscores the ongoing aerial threats in the region and highlights Russia’s defensive measures amidst escalating tensions.
Russia recently announced that it scrambled fighter jets to prevent two US strategic bomber planes from crossing its border over the Barents Sea in the Arctic.
The US military regularly conducts flights over international waters, maintaining that these operations are conducted in neutral airspace and in accordance with international law.
However, Moscow has increasingly responded aggressively to these exercises. In June, Russia warned that US drone flights over the Black Sea risked leading to a “direct” military clash.
The Russian defense ministry stated that it had scrambled fighter jets to intercept an “air target approaching the state border of the Russian Federation.”
The crews identified the aerial target as a pair of US Air Force B-52H strategic bombers.
“As the Russian fighters approached, the American strategic bombers corrected their flight course, moving away and then turning away from Russia’s state border,” the ministry said.