Russia downs five Ukrainian drones over two regions

The Russian military shot down five Ukrainian drones over the Belgorod and Bryansk regions on the night of January 27 to 28.

“During the past night, on-duty air defence means destroyed five Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles: two UAVs each over the territories of Belgorod and Bryansk regions and one - over the territory of the Black Sea,” the Russian Defence Ministry said on Telegram, Caliber.Az informs.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, both nations have engaged in various forms of conflict, including drone strikes.   

In general, Ukraine has increasingly utilized drone strikes deep within Russian territory, targeting military infrastructure, logistics hubs, and strategic sites, intending to disrupt Russian operations and alleviate pressure on Ukrainian frontlines.

One of the attacks was in January 2025 when Ukraine executed its largest-ever missile and drone strike deep within Russian territory. Employing a "triple-tap" method, the attack combined British Storm Shadow cruise missiles, American ATACMS long-range rockets, and drones to overwhelm Russian air defences. This coordinated assault targeted weapon production facilities, oil refineries, and storage warehouses across multiple regions, including Engels, Bryansk, and Tula, significantly disrupting Russia's strategic aviation capacities. 

Ukrainian drone strikes have also been targeting Russia's Belgorod region with growing frequency. In September 2024, drones struck three towns in Belgorod, including damaging St. Nicholas Church in Gruzskoye. Earlier, in August 2024, a drone attack resulted in one death, despite Russian air defences intercepting several drones over Belgorod and Kursk. Another attack in July 2024 injured five children and killed at least two people in Shebekino.

Additionally, Ukrainian drones hit an oil depot in Gubkinsky in August 2024, causing significant explosions. These attacks have intensified the conflict, with Ukraine increasingly targeting both military and civilian infrastructure to disrupt Russian operations and provoke broader disruptions.

By Khagan Isayev