Russian air defences take down 59 Ukrainian drones overnight

Russian air defence systems successfully intercepted and destroyed 59 Ukrainian drones during the night, according to a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defence on December 25. 

The drones were shot down over multiple regions in southern Russia, highlighting ongoing aerial conflicts, Caliber.Az reports citing the ministry's message on telegram.

The ministry specified that 26 drones were downed over the Belgorod region, 23 over the Voronezh region, and three over the Kursk, Bryansk, and Tambov regions respectively. Additionally, one drone was shot down over the waters of the Sea of Azov.

This marks a significant increase in the number of drones targeted by Russian air defenses, compared to the previous day. On December 24, Russia reported the destruction of just four Ukrainian UAVs, including three over the Rostov region and one over Voronezh.

Meanwhile, violence continues to escalate on the ground. At least one person was killed and 15 others injured in a Russian missile attack on the southeastern Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. A woman was rescued alive from the rubble of a building struck by the missile, but the attack underscored the ongoing toll of the conflict.

Ukraine's Defence Ministry responded with reports of significant drone activity on the night of  December 23. The Ukrainian Air Force intercepted 36 drones, while 23 others were disrupted by electronic warfare. By December 24, drones had been shot down in eight regions across the country, signalling the continued air war between the two nations.

The situation in southern Ukraine remains particularly tense. According to Vladyslav Voloshyn, spokesperson for Ukraine's Southern Command, Russian troops are attempting to establish a bridgehead on the western bank of the Dnipro River, possibly in a bid to launch a major offensive in the Kherson Oblast. Voloshyn explained that Russian forces have been conducting daily assaults by small infantry groups in the region to test Ukrainian defences.

The targeted islands in the Dnipro River delta, including Kozatsky Island and Velykyi Potemkin Island, have been key focus points for these Russian assaults. Despite these attempts, Voloshyn emphasized that Russia's goal is not necessarily to seize the entire area but to gain strategic footholds for further attacks, particularly against Ukrainian military positions along the western bank of the Dnipro River.

By Tamilla Hasanova