Russian air defense forces repelled another wave of Ukrainian drone attacks overnight on January 2, according to the Ministry of Defense.

The ministry reported that between 11:00 p.m. Moscow time on January 1 and 7:00 a.m. on January 2, on-duty air defense units intercepted and destroyed 64 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles. The largest number of drones was shot down over Samara Region, where 20 UAVs were neutralized. Eight drones each were intercepted over Voronezh and Saratov Regions.

Seven UAVs were destroyed over the Moscow Region, with the defense ministry specifying that five of them had been heading toward Moscow. Six drones were downed over Ryazan Region and another six over Rostov Region. Air defenses also eliminated three UAVs over Tula Region and two over Belgorod Region. Single drones were intercepted over Kursk, Kaluga, Penza, and Tambov Regions.

Earlier on January 1, between 4:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. Moscow time, air defense forces intercepted 201 Ukrainian drones. Belgorod Region accounted for the highest number, with 51 UAVs shot down. Another 36 drones were neutralized over Bryansk Region. Over the Moscow Region, air defenses destroyed 24 UAVs, including 21 that were flying toward the capital.

Further interceptions were reported across multiple regions: 16 drones over Rostov Region, 15 over Kaluga Region, 14 over Tula Region, 12 over Kursk Region, and 10 over Ryazan Region. Six UAVs each were intercepted over Voronezh Region and the territory of the Republic of Crimea. Five drones were destroyed over Orel Region and four over Lipetsk Region. In addition, two UAVs were shot down over the waters of the Sea of Azov.