Russia Says Downed Dozens of Ukrainian Drones Overnight
©Anatolii STEPANOV / AFP

Russia said Sunday it downed dozens of Ukrainian drones overnight in a barrage that damaged homes and triggered air alerts.

Videos posted on social media appeared to show distant explosions in the southern Rostov region, while an air raid siren could be heard in the background.

"During the past night, 61 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed by air defences," the Russian defence ministry said, adding most were intercepted over regions near the Ukrainian border.

Four airports briefly suspended traffic early Sunday for "safety" reasons, forcing at least eight planes to divert course, a spokesperson for Russia's civil aviation authority Rosaviatsia said.

In the port city of Taganrog and surrounding area, falling debris from downed drones damaged civilian property, according to local Rostov region governor Yuri Slyusar.

"Windows were broken, roofs and walls of residential houses were damaged, cars were also affected," he said.

Moscow and Kyiv have exchanged almost daily drone attacks through the nearly three-year conflict, damaging civilian areas far from the frontline and depleting each other's air defences.

The Ukrainian air force said Russia sent 103 drones into its territory, 61 of which were shot down while 42 were "decoys".

"Several private houses were damaged in the Kharkiv region as a result of the fall of a damaged attack drone," it said.

Three people were wounded in the northeast Kharkiv region as a result of the attack, while four buildings were damaged, regional prosecutors said.

 

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