Russian Air Defense Repels Massive Ukrainian Drone Attack Across Multiple Regions
Russian air defenses intercepted 163 Ukrainian drones overnight on March 9 across 14 regions, Crimea, and the Azov and Black seas, according to the Defense Ministry.
Russian air defense systems repelled a large-scale Ukrainian drone assault overnight on March 9, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
The ministry reported that between 23:00 on March 8 and 07:00 on March 9, air defense units on duty intercepted and destroyed 163 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles over 14 Russian regions, as well as over the waters of the Azov and Black seas.
The heaviest wave of drones was recorded over Bryansk Region, where 54 UAVs were shot down. Another 47 drones were destroyed over Crimea. Air defenses also downed 16 drones in Krasnodar Krai, 11 in Kaluga Region, and eight in Novgorod Region. Five UAVs were intercepted over Belgorod Region.
Additional interceptions were reported in several other areas. Four drones were destroyed over the Black Sea and another four in Smolensk Region. Three UAVs were shot down in Voronezh Region and the Republic of Adygea. Two drones were eliminated in Rostov Region and two more over the Azov Sea. Single drones were destroyed in Astrakhan, Volgograd, Oryol, and Tver regions.
Drone attacks had continued throughout the previous evening at different intervals. Between 20:00 and 23:00 Moscow time, Russian air defenses shot down 34 Ukrainian UAVs. Earlier, from 18:00 to 20:00, another 30 drones were intercepted.
The largest wave occurred earlier in the day. From 14:00 to 18:00, air defense forces destroyed 170 UAVs, while between 08:00 and 14:00 Russian military units intercepted 152 drones.