Russian air defenses destroyed 71 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones overnight on September 16, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. The UAVs were intercepted over the Bryansk, Kaluga, Oryol, Rostov and Astrakhan regions, Krasnodar Territory and Crimea, as well as over the Black Sea.

Drone activity had also continued throughout the previous day. Between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Moscow time on September 15, air defense units shot down another 22 UAVs over the Bryansk, Kursk, Kaluga and Smolensk regions, Crimea and the Black Sea.

Belgorod Region came under 40 attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces over the past 24 hours, acting governor Alexander Shuvaev reported. Strikes hit the Belgorodsky, Borisovsky, Valuisky, Volokonovsky, Grayvoronsky, Krasnoyaruzhsky and Shebekinsky districts. One artillery attack and three drops of explosive devices from drones were also recorded. Russian units destroyed or suppressed 48 UAVs.

The attacks caused civilian casualties. One person was killed in the Grayvoronsky district in what Shuvaev described as a deliberate Ukrainian strike. Four more people were wounded in the Grayvoronsky, Krasnoyaruzhsky and Shebekinsky districts. Three were taken to hospital, with one of them listed in extremely serious condition.

Kursk Region also faced repeated attacks. Governor Alexander Khinshtein said 100 drones of various types were shot down between 9:00 a.m. on September 15 and 9:00 a.m. on September 16. Ukrainian forces used artillery against evacuated areas 16 times and carried out another seven attacks involving drones fitted with explosive devices.

Property damage was reported in several settlements. In the village of Uspeshnoye in the Rylsky district, a house suffered damage to its facade and windows, while a car was also hit. The roof of a house was damaged in Mikhailovka, and a private home in the village of Nizhny Mordok in the Glushkovsky district sustained roof damage. No deaths or injuries were reported in Kursk Region.

Authorities in Bryansk Region also released their figures for the past day. Acting governor Yegor Kovalchuk said 14 fixed-wing drones were destroyed over the region. The response involved Russian Defense Ministry air defense units, mobile fire teams from the BARS-Bryansk brigade, mobile groups of the Bryansk transport police and regional Rosgvardia special units.