Russia destroys dozens of Ukrainian missiles, drones over its territory

Russian air defence systems destroyed two Ukrainian Tochka-U missiles, 19 Vampire rockets, five small balloons and 20 drones over the Belgorod, Rostov and Voronezh regions on April 17.

“Overnight, attempts by the Kyiv regime to carry out terrorist attacks on targets on the territory of the Russian Federation using Tochka-U tactical missiles, the RM-70 Vampire multiple launch rocket system, aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles and small-sized balloons were stopped," Sputnik reports citing the Russian Defence Ministry.

The air defence systems on duty destroyed two missiles, 19 rockets, 16 drones and two small-sized balloons over the Belgorod Region, three drones above the Rostov Region, and also intercepted one drone and destroyed three small-sized balloons over the Voronezh Region.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of a military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The president said that the goals are “demilitarisation” and “denazification” of the neighbouring country, as well as the protection of the civilian population of Donbas from “genocide by Kyiv authorities”. After the outbreak of hostilities, the Ukrainian authorities introduced martial law throughout the country and launched a general mobilisation. The partial mobilisation was announced in Russia in September 2022.