Russian Air Defenses Report Downing 72 Ukrainian Drones Overnight
Russia’s Defense Ministry says air defenses shot down 72 Ukrainian drones over Crimea and regions, as a strike on an oil depot in Armavir sparked a fire.
Russia’s Defense Ministry says its air defenses downed 72 Ukrainian drones over several Russian regions during the night of 8 March.
According to the ministry, on-duty air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 72 Ukrainian fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles over Russian territory. The largest number of drones — 20 each — was reported shot down over Astrakhan Region and Crimea. Another 14 were brought down over Rostov Region, eight over Belgorod Region, four over Krasnodar Krai, three over Kursk Region, two over Volgograd Region and one over the Azov Sea.
The report also notes that in Armavir, in Krasnodar Krai, a fire broke out at an oil depot following a drone strike. Regional emergency officials said the blaze was contained by morning over an area of about 700 square meters.
The ministry reiterated that, in response to strikes by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on civilian infrastructure, Russian troops are carrying out attacks with high-precision air-, sea- and land-based weapons, as well as drones, targeting only military facilities and enterprises of Ukraine’s defense industry.