10:57 01-06-2026

Russia Says Air Defenses Downed 72 Drones Overnight

Zеlеnskiу / Оfficiаl / Telegram

Russia says air defenses downed 72 drones overnight across several regions, Crimea and the Black Sea, with more attacks reported in Belgorod region.

Russian air defenses shot down 72 drones overnight on June 1, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

According to the ministry, the drones were destroyed over the Astrakhan, Belgorod, Bryansk, Volgograd, Voronezh, Kursk and Rostov regions, the Republic of Crimea, and the Black Sea.

A day earlier, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Moscow time, air defense crews intercepted another 23 Ukrainian UAVs. They were downed over the Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk regions, as well as over the Azov Sea.

In the Rostov region, air defenses destroyed around 20 UAVs overnight while repelling an aerial attack, Governor Yury Slyusar said. The attack affected Kamensk-Shakhtinsky, Volgodonsk and eight districts of the region: Kamensky, Kasharsky, Chertkovsky, Millerovsky, Tarasovsky, Morozovsky, Sholokhovsky and Milyutinsky. No casualties or damage on the ground were reported.

In the Voronezh region, Governor Alexander Gusev said air defense units detected and destroyed 12 drones overnight over six districts. There were no casualties or damage.

In the Belgorod region, acting governor Alexander Shuvayev said 52 attacks by Ukrainian forces had been recorded over the past 24 hours. Belgorod came under fire, along with the Alekseyevsky, Belgorodsky, Borisovsky, Valuysky, Volokonovsky, Grayvoronsky, Krasnoyaruzhsky and Shebekinsky districts.

According to Shuvayev, artillery and multiple-launch rocket systems were used seven times, while explosive devices were dropped from drones on four occasions. Air defense crews and other deployed units neutralized 60 drones. One civilian was injured in the Grayvoronsky district; after receiving medical assistance, he continued treatment on an outpatient basis.