Russian air defense forces repelled a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack overnight on January 16. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, on-duty air defense units intercepted and destroyed a total of 106 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles.

The heaviest concentration of drones was recorded over Belgorod Region, where 44 UAVs were neutralized. Another 22 drones were shot down over Ryazan Region. Air defense systems intercepted 11 drones each over Rostov and Voronezh Regions, while seven were destroyed over Kursk Region. Four UAVs were downed over Tula Region and another four over Volgograd Region. Single drones were intercepted over Crimea, Orel Region, and Lipetsk Region.

Ukrainian drone activity was also reported the previous day. The Ministry of Defense stated that on January 15, between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Moscow time, air defense systems destroyed nine Ukrainian UAVs. Seven of them were intercepted over the Republic of Crimea, with two more shot down over the waters of the Azov Sea.

Earlier that same day, between noon and 4:00 p.m. Moscow time, air defense crews intercepted and eliminated an additional ten drones. Seven were destroyed over Belgorod Region, while three were downed over Kursk Region.