Russia shoots down 51 Ukrainian drones overnight

Russian air defence systems intercepted and destroyed a total of 51 Ukrainian drones during the night, according to the Russian Ministry of Defence.

In a statement on Telegram, the ministry said the drones were downed between 23:00 on August 5 and 05:30 on August 6, Caliber.Az reports.

Of those, 16 fixed-wing type drones were intercepted over Russia’s Rostov region.

A further 16 were shot down over Bryansk, 12 over the occupied Crimean peninsula, five over the Voronezh region, and three over Oryol.

Since the full-scale invasion by Russia in February 2022, Ukraine has increasingly relied on drones as a crucial element of its military strategy.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have provided Ukraine with significant tactical advantages, allowing for real-time reconnaissance, target acquisition, and precision strikes against Russian forces.

Ukraine’s use of small commercial drones for battlefield surveillance enables forces to monitor enemy positions and movements without risking personnel.

More advanced military-grade drones, including Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2s, have been instrumental in targeting Russian artillery, supply lines, and command posts, disrupting Moscow’s operational capabilities. 

These UAVs have allowed Ukraine to offset Russia’s numerical superiority by providing timely intelligence and striking power.

Russia has responded by deploying sophisticated air defence systems to counter drone incursions, but Ukraine’s agile and low-cost UAVs continue to challenge Russian defences.

A report by the Institute for the Study of War highlights Ukraine’s evolving drone tactics as a “force multiplier” that enhances its operational flexibility.

By Aghakazim Guliyev