Russian air defences shoot down dozens of Ukrainian drones

Russian air defence units reported intercepting and destroying 22 Ukrainian drones on December 30.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, 20 of the drones were shot down over the Bryansk region, with a further two destroyed over the Krasnodar Krai.

The aircraft involved were described as fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles. No casualties have been reported.

Russian defence officials said their troops have continued operations in eastern and southern Ukraine, claiming advances in several areas.

The Russian Ministry of Defence reported strikes against Ukrainian personnel and equipment in Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions. They stated that over 250 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed, along with the destruction of armoured vehicles, cars, and a US-made M113 armoured personnel carrier.

Russian forces also said they had liberated the village of Lukyanivske in Zaporizhzhia and targeted Ukrainian energy facilities, command posts, and positions of foreign fighters in more than 150 locations.

In addition, Russian air defences reportedly shot down 18 fixed-wing drones and three HIMARS rockets.

By Aghakazim Guliyev