09:29 18-10-2025

Russian Air Defenses Down 41 Ukrainian Drones Overnight

Russia’s air defenses destroyed 41 Ukrainian drones over 12 regions and the Black Sea overnight, according to the Defense Ministry. Retaliatory strikes continue.

According to Russia’s Ministry of Defense, air defense units intercepted and destroyed forty-one Ukrainian fixed-wing kamikaze drones overnight. The unmanned aircraft were detected over twelve Russian regions and the Black Sea.

The largest number of drones-twelve-were neutralized in the skies above Bryansk Region. Six more were downed over the waters of the Black Sea. Air defense systems also eliminated five drones each in Kaluga Region and the Republic of Bashkiria.

Three drones were intercepted over the Moscow Region, two each over Belgorod and Oryol Regions, and one drone was destroyed in each of the following regions: Volgograd, Kursk, Ryazan, Tambov, Tula, and Samara.

The Defense Ministry noted that Ukrainian forces continue to attempt daily drone attacks on civilian, industrial, and energy facilities inside Russia. These attacks, which often involve large groups of unmanned aircraft, are being countered effectively by Russian air defense systems, which reportedly intercept and destroy the vast majority of incoming threats.

In response, the Russian Armed Forces have been conducting precision strikes on military-related targets within Ukraine. These include command posts, weapons and ammunition depots, facilities of the Ukrainian defense industry, and locations where Ukrainian troops and foreign mercenaries are stationed. Artillery, missile, and drone strikes are used to disrupt enemy logistics and degrade combat capability.

The Defense Ministry emphasized that such retaliatory measures are aimed exclusively at military infrastructure and are carried out to prevent further attacks on Russian territory.