Russia destroys 21 more Ukrainian drones in nighttime counterattack

On the night of August 24 to 25, Russian air defence forces intercepted and destroyed 21 Ukrainian drones overnight, the Russian Ministry of Defence said.

The ministry stated that the attack took place from 11:00 p.m. on August 24 to 7:00 a.m. on August 25, Caliber.Az reports.

Seven drones were shot down over Smolensk Oblast, six over Bryansk Oblast, three over Oryol Oblast, and three in the Moscow region, with two of those heading toward the capital. Additionally, one drone was destroyed each in Kaluga and Tver Oblasts.

In a previous such incident, Russia's Defence Ministry claimed to have intercepted at least 95 Ukrainian drones across more than a dozen regions, coinciding with Ukraine's Independence Day celebrations. This barrage was linked to accusations of a Ukrainian strike on a nuclear plant in Kursk, which sparked a fire but caused no radiation leaks. Separately, incidents in Moscow and St. Petersburg disrupted dozens of flights, with 57 drones reportedly downed over central regions and the Black Sea.

By Khagan Isayev