69 Ukrainian drones shot down overnight: Russian MoD
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According to the breakdown, 27 drones were shot down over the Belgorod Region, 22 over Voronezh, 10 over Lipetsk, eight over Kursk, and two over Crimea.
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Ukrainian-made fixed-wing Besomar 3210 drone interceptors are handed over to the Armed Forces by Kozytskyi Charity Foundation in an undisclosed location in the Lviv region, western Ukraine, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Mykola Tys, File)
Russian air defenses reportedly intercepted a large-scale Ukrainian drone offensive overnight, marking another escalation in the ongoing aerial duel between Moscow and Kiev. The Russian Defense Ministry announced Wednesday that its forces had downed 69 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in what it described as a coordinated attempt to strike deep within Russian territory.
"This past night, air defense systems on duty destroyed 69 Ukrainian aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles," the ministry stated.
According to the breakdown, 27 drones were shot down over the Belgorod Region, 22 over Voronezh, 10 over Lipetsk, eight over Kursk, and two over Crimea. The distribution of targets suggests a widespread effort by Ukraine to disrupt or probe Russian military and logistical infrastructure across multiple regions.
No casualties or structural damage were mentioned in the official Russian statement, and as of Wednesday afternoon, Ukrainian authorities had not publicly addressed the claim.
The drone assault follows a series of increasingly deep and daring strikes carried out by Ukraine. In one of the most notable recent incidents, Ukrainian drones reportedly hit the Kupol Electromechanical Plant in Izhevsk, over 1,300 km inside Russian territory, killing three people and injuring more than 30. That facility is known for producing key air-defense components.
Satellite images showing the aftermath of the attack on the Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant "Kupol" have appeared online. Part of the roof of one of the military factory buildings has been completely destroyed. pic.twitter.com/1F8rAJBJ2f
— WarTranslated (@wartranslated) July 2, 2025
Meanwhile, Russia continues to intensify its own aerial campaign. In late June, Moscow launched its largest combined missile-and-drone strike since the war began, deploying nearly 540 aerial weapons against Ukrainian infrastructure. Ukrainian defenses managed to intercept many, but power grids and civilian areas remain under severe strain.
In parallel, the broader war effort is being shaped by international dynamics. The US has paused the shipment of certain missiles and Patriot air-defense systems to Ukraine, citing low stockpiles. Kiev, alarmed by the move, summoned the US ambassador for urgent discussions.
The pause comes at a time when Russia is reportedly preparing new offensives in Ukraine's northeast, potentially bolstered by 30,000 DPRK troops set to deploy in support of Russian operations, according to reports.
Read more: US war buildup forces pause in Ukraine arms shipments
In a separate development, Russian authorities claimed to have uncovered a cache of drone-deployed chemical munitions in the Donetsk People's Republic. According to the FSB, the cache contained bombs filled with chloropicrin, a banned chemical agent.
The Investigative Department of the FSB has since opened a criminal case under Russia’s criminal code provisions concerning the development, production, stockpiling, acquisition, or sale of weapons of mass destruction.
