Russia says it shot down four Ukrainian drones in fresh counterattack

Between 08:00 and 12:00 Moscow time, on-duty air defence systems of the Russian Armed Forces destroyed four Ukrainian fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Three drones were shot down over Kursk Region, while one was intercepted over Belgorod Region, Caliber.Az reports via Russia’s Ministry of Defence.

Ukrainian long-range drone strikes have intensified in early 2026, targeting deeper into Russian territory. Border regions like Belgorod and Bryansk face frequent attacks. Russia routinely reports high interception rates using layered air defences (Pantsir, Tor, Buk systems, electronic warfare, and mobile groups), though independent verification of claims is limited.

By Khagan Isayev