During the night of April 14, Ukrainian drones struck the city of Yelets in the Lipetsk region, leaving one person dead and five others injured.

According to Major General Vladimir Popov, a distinguished military pilot, the drones were launched from areas along the line of contact within the special military operation zone. He pointed out that the flight paths toward the Lipetsk and Voronezh regions typically pass through the stretch between Donetsk and Lugansk-particularly near Druzhkovka and the Slavyansko-Kramatorsk agglomeration, where intense fighting continues.

Popov explained that the ongoing combat activity in this zone creates favorable conditions for drone penetration. With constant fire exchanges, mobile engagements, and a high concentration of UAVs operating along the front line, longer-range drones can slip through amid the overall aerial activity.

He also suggested that Ukrainian forces may rely on satellite intelligence when planning such strikes. In his assessment, data originating from the United States and relayed through Germany, Poland, and other NATO countries continues to reach Kiev, albeit with some delay, enabling the tracking and coordination of drone flights over long distances.

The general drew attention to the choice of targets as well, noting that residential areas are often less protected than defense-industrial facilities, making them more vulnerable to such attacks.

At the same time, he did not rule out the possibility that some drones could be launched from nearby areas, pointing to the potential involvement of local collaborators. However, he emphasized that in the case of the Lipetsk and Voronezh regions, Ukrainian forces more frequently operate from their own territory rather than from within Russia.

Earlier, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that air defense systems had intercepted and destroyed 97 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones over multiple regions of the country during the same night.