Russian air defense units repelled a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack overnight into January 1, intercepting dozens of unmanned aircraft across multiple regions, the Defense Ministry reported.

According to official data, air defense systems destroyed a total of 168 fixed-wing drones during the night. The heaviest concentration of targets was detected over Bryansk Region, where 61 UAVs were shot down. Another 25 drones were intercepted over Krasnodar Territory, while 24 were destroyed over the waters of the Sea of Azov.

Air defenses also engaged targets over several central and southern regions. Twenty-three drones were intercepted in Tula Region, 16 over the territory of the Republic of Crimea, and seven over Kaluga Region. In the Moscow Region, 12 UAVs were neutralized, with nine of them reportedly flying toward the capital.

The overnight attack followed another wave of drone activity on December 31. Between 08:00 and 23:00 Moscow time, air defense crews destroyed 53 unmanned aerial vehicles. As in the later attack, Bryansk Region bore the brunt, accounting for 40 intercepted drones.

Additional interceptions were reported across several regions: five UAVs over Voronezh Region, two each over Belgorod and Orel Regions, and single drones over Volgograd, Rostov, Tula, and Yaroslavl Regions.