Dozens of Ukrainian drones shot down over Russia – MOD
Russian air defenses have repelled a series of Ukrainian drone raids across the country, shooting down 68 UAVs on New Year's Eve, according to the Defense Ministry in Moscow. One of the strikes damaged an oil depot in Smolensk Region, local officials said.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the ministry said 25 drones were intercepted overnight over Bryansk Region, 17 over Crimea, and 11 over Krasnodar Region. Other affected areas included Smolensk Region with 10 drones, Tver Region with two, and one each over Rostov, Kursk, and Kaluga Regions. All of the areas are located relatively close to the Ukrainian border.
Roman Zakharov, head of the Yartsevo district in Smolensk, confirmed that debris from one of the drones struck an oil depot in the area, causing a fuel spill and fire. Emergency services have contained the situation, and no residential areas are at risk, Zakharov said, urging residents to avoid drone debris if encountered, citing safety concerns.
On Tuesday morning, Kazan Airport also temporarily suspended all flights to ensure the safety of civil aviation, according to Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency. The officials, however, did not directly link the suspension to the drone attacks.
In a related development, a Ukrainian missile strike hit the town of Lgov in Kursk Region, one of the targets of Kiev’s incursion, Alexandr Khinshtein, the local governor said. He noted that the attack caused “significant damage” to an apartment building. One elderly woman sustained minor injuries but refused hospitalization, the official added.
Khinshtein emphasized that such attacks, particularly on New Year's Eve, are aimed at “instilling fear, sowing panic” and disrupting celebrations. He assured residents that the regional government would provide round-the-clock support during the holiday period, with emergency services working to restore electricity and gas supplies.
Ukraine has routinely launched drone and missile strikes across Russia since the start of the conflict, targeting civilian infrastructure and residential areas, as well as oil processing plants and depots. Moscow has responded with strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities and military infrastructure, while insisting that the attacks never target civilians.
