Russia’s air defense systems intercepted a large wave of Ukrainian drones overnight, according to the Ministry of Defense.

Between 20:00 Moscow time on March 16 and 07:00 on March 17, a total of 206 unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down. The heaviest activity was recorded over Bryansk Region, where 62 drones were destroyed.

Air defenses were also heavily engaged around Moscow. In the Moscow Region, 43 drones were neutralized, with 40 of them reportedly heading directly toward the capital.

Other regions saw significant interception numbers as well. Krasnodar Krai accounted for 28 downed drones, while 18 were eliminated over Crimea. Smolensk Region and the waters of the Azov Sea each saw 12 drones intercepted. Additional strikes were repelled across several areas: 9 drones over Kaluga Region, 8 over Belgorod Region, 6 over Rostov Region, 4 over Leningrad Region, 3 over Astrakhan Region, and one over the Republic of Adygea.

The overnight barrage followed sustained drone activity earlier in the day. From 16:00 to 20:00 on March 16, Russian air defenses reportedly shot down 59 drones. Earlier, between 08:00 and 16:00, another 96 UAVs had been intercepted.

Against this backdrop, damage to civilian infrastructure was reported in Bryansk Region. Governor Aleksandr Bogomaz stated that drone strikes hit residential areas in the villages of Novy Ropsk in Klimovsky District and Solova in the Starodubsky District. Two houses were damaged, though no casualties were reported.

Meanwhile, Rodion Miroshnik, Russia’s ambassador-at-large at the Foreign Ministry, said that between March 9 and 15, Ukrainian attacks affected 239 civilians. According to his data, 202 people were injured, including six minors, and 37 were killed. Over the same period, at least 3,347 munitions were fired at civilian targets on Russian territory.