Russian air defenses down 100+ Ukrainian drones overnight
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Over 100 drones were launched toward Russian positions on Friday, the overwhelming majority of which were downed.
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The crew of a Buk-M1 air defense system operates a unit in the southern region of Donetsk, on April 14, 2024. (Russian Ministry of Defense)
Russian air defenses and the Black Sea fleet intercepted a total of 102 Ukrainian drones and destroyed six unnamed surface vehicles (USVs) overnight, the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Friday.
"Last night, a number of attempts by the Kiev regime to carry out terrorist attacks with the use of aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned boats of the Ukrainian navy on the territory of the Russian Federation were foiled," the ministry said in a statement.
The interceptions were distributed as follows: 51 aerial drones over Crimea, 44 aerial drones over the Krasnodar Territory, six drones over the Belgorod region, and a drone over the Kursk region.
Russian aircraft also sunk and destroyed six USVs in the Black Sea.
Although Russian air defenses managed to down the overwhelming majority of Ukrainian drones, one drone struck a family near the border in Russia's Belgorod region, killing a mother and her four-year-old son, the region's governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said.
"In the village of Oktyabrsky, a kamikaze drone attacked a car carrying a driver and three passengers: a mum, dad, and a child," Gladkov explained.
"As a result of the explosion, the woman died on the spot from her wounds. The child was in critical condition. Doctors did everything possible to save him," but the four-year-old died of his injuries in hospital, he added.
Both the father and the driver of the car were injured as a result of the attack.
A drone also hit a gas station in Bessonovka village, however, emergency services were quick to arrive at the scene of the fire caused by the impact and put out the flames.
Read more: Ukraine lost 510 soldiers in Donetsk battles: Russian MoD
Russian forces seize control of sections of Vovchansk in Kharkiv
The failed wide-scale drone attack came amid significant challenges faced by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the Kharkiv front, as Russian forces continue to advance westward.
The Guardian, citing sources familiar with the matter, said that UK intelligence services had provided advance warning to Kiev about a potential Russian advance in the region. However, Ukrainian forces reportedly failed to adequately prepare for the situation.
The lack of readiness on the part of Ukrainian military units stationed in the Kharkiv region has been a cause for concern. A Ukrainian veteran noted that these units were "simply not prepared to fight."
Russian advancements in the region have been significant in recent days. Last week, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that its North battlegroup had gained control over several villages in the area, while the head of Russian-controlled territories in the region, Vitaly Ganchev, said that Russian troops took control of key part of the border city of Vovchansk.
As the war in Ukraine unfolds in favor of Moscow, Europe and the United States continue to put off peace talks between the two sides and send further military aid to Kiev.
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