Russian Air Defense Systems Destroy Thousands of Drones and Missiles in One Week
Russian air defenses intercepted over 2,600 drones, HIMARS rockets, and missiles in a week, highlighting the scale of aerial threats and ongoing military tensions.
Russian air defense systems intercepted and destroyed thousands of aerial targets over the past week, including drones and Western-made munitions, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
The ministry reported that between March 14 and March 20, air defenses shot down 40 guided aerial bombs, 12 HIMARS rockets, two long-range Neptune missiles, and 2,615 fixed-wing drones.
Separately, officials noted that during the night of March 20, on-duty air defense units eliminated 26 Ukrainian drones.
These developments come as NATO countries continue supplying Kyiv with advanced weaponry worth billions of dollars. Deliveries have included Patriot air defense systems, HIMARS and ATACMS missiles, Abrams tanks, F-16 fighter jets, and Storm Shadow cruise missiles. Despite this масштабная military support, it has not translated into significant battlefield gains for Ukrainian forces.
Moscow maintains that ongoing arms shipments only prolong the conflict and complicate prospects for a peaceful settlement. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has previously stated that any weapons supplied to Ukraine would be treated as legitimate targets by Russian forces.