Russia says it intercepted and destroyed 605 Ukrainian drones in overnight attacks across its territory and the occupied Crimean Peninsula, in what appears to be one of the largest drone assaults since the war began.
The Russian Defence Ministry said on Thursday that its air defence systems shot down the drones during coordinated attacks targeting several regions, including Tver, about 180 kilometres northwest of Moscow.
Tver Governor Vitaly Korolyov said the attack was successfully repelled, but debris from one of the drones damaged the facade of a Wildberries logistics centre. He added that no casualties were recorded.
Ukraine has repeatedly targeted facilities linked to Wildberries, one of Russia’s biggest online retailers, claiming they support Moscow’s military operations.
In the Yaroslavl region, about 250 kilometres north of Moscow, Governor Mikhail Yevrayev described the assault as the largest the region had faced since the war started.
According to him, Russian forces shot down 92 drones over the region. Falling debris sparked fires in some homes and damaged several vehicles, although no deaths or injuries were reported.
The latest attacks underline the growing use of long-range drones by both Russia and Ukraine, as fighting continues with no sign of a breakthrough in diplomatic efforts to end the war.
