Russian air defense units repelled a large-scale drone assault overnight, intercepting dozens of Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles across several regions, the Defense Ministry reported.

According to official data, from 11:00 p.m. Moscow time on January 7 until 7:00 a.m. on January 8, on-duty air defense crews detected and destroyed 66 fixed-wing Ukrainian drones.

The heaviest concentration of interceptions was recorded over the Republic of Crimea, where 14 UAVs were shot down. Another 13 drones were neutralized over the waters of the Sea of Azov, while 12 were intercepted above the Black Sea. Air defense systems also engaged targets over Russia’s southern regions: 11 drones were destroyed in Krasnodar Krai and six in Rostov Region. In Orel Region, five UAVs were brought down.

Smaller numbers of drones were intercepted further north and east. Two UAVs each were shot down over Kursk and Volgograd regions, and one drone was destroyed over Bryansk Region.

The overnight attack followed an earlier wave on the evening of January 7. Between 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. Moscow time, air defense forces intercepted nine additional Ukrainian drones. Seven of them were downed over Crimea, while one was destroyed over Volgograd Region and another over the Black Sea.