Between 23:00 and 7:00 Moscow time on the night of February 23–24, Russian air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 79 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

The heaviest wave targeted Belgorod Region, where 21 unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down. Another 15 drones were eliminated over Krasnodar Region and the Black Sea. Eleven were downed over the Republic of Crimea, while nine were intercepted above the Sea of Azov. In Saratov Region, air defenses destroyed five UAVs. Single drones were also reported shot down over Adygea, Kursk Region, and Rostov Region.

The night operation followed a series of earlier interceptions the same day. From 20:00 to 23:00 Moscow time, air defenses downed 24 drones. Nine of them were intercepted over the Black Sea, seven over Belgorod Region, and six over Krasnodar Region. One UAV each was destroyed over Crimea and the Sea of Azov.

Earlier, between 15:00 and 20:00, 45 drones were neutralized. During that period, 12 UAVs were shot down over Crimea, 11 over Krasnodar Region, eight over the Sea of Azov, and seven over the Black Sea. Six more were eliminated in Belgorod Region and one in Bryansk Region.

In the afternoon, from 12:00 to 15:00, Russian air defenses intercepted another 27 drones. Thirteen were destroyed over Belgorod Region, five over the Sea of Azov, and four over Krasnodar Region. Two UAVs each were downed over Kursk Region and Crimea, while one was intercepted over the Black Sea.