Russia says it shot down 97 Ukrainian drones overnight

Russia’s air defence forces intercepted and destroyed 97 Ukrainian drones overnight between April 20 and April 21.

The attacks were repelled over several regions, including Astrakhan, Belgorod, Volgograd, Voronezh, Kursk, Rostov, Samara, and Saratov, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation.

Drones were also shot down over the Black Sea, the ministry added.

The developments come amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

In recent days, Ukrainian officials say Russian forces are attempting to intensify assault operations in the border areas of the Sumy region, though no breakthrough into deeper Ukrainian territory has been reported.

Separately, an explosion followed by a fire at a facility near the city of Rivne in northwestern Ukraine left eight people injured, local authorities said on April 20.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov