Russian military destroys six Ukrainian drones over Belgorod

The Russian military successfully intercepted six Ukrainian drones overnight over the Belgorod region, according to a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry on October 2.

"Six Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed over the territory of the Belgorod region by air defence means on duty," the ministry announced, Caliber.Az reports.

Earlier, Belgorod Region Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported that a Ukrainian drone attack on the village of Tishanka resulted in two civilian casualties.

"The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) launched an FPV drone strike on the village of Tishanka in the Volokonovsky district, wounding two civilians," he stated on his Telegram channel.

Gladkov also noted that a social facility in the village suffered damage due to the drone strike.

In a broader context of ongoing hostilities, at least six people were killed and three injured in Kherson when Russian artillery targeted a market. Another six individuals were wounded by Russian fire while waiting at a city bus stop.

In the southern Zaporizhia region, one person was killed and 32 injured after aerial bombs struck residential buildings and infrastructure, according to regional governor Ivan Fedorov.

Ukraine's military reported that it shot down 29 out of 32 Iranian-made drones during a Russian attack affecting central, southern, and northeastern Ukraine.

Vadym Filashkin, the governor of the Donetsk region, indicated that Russian troops have advanced to the centre of Vuhledar in eastern Ukraine's industrial Donbas. However, it remains unclear whether they have gained full control of the town, which has been heavily impacted by months of conflict. Filashkin mentioned that approximately 107 civilians are still in Vuhledar, down from a pre-war population of about 14,000.

Additionally, Russia claimed to have captured two more frontline villages: Krutyi Yar in the Donetsk region and Vyshneve in northeastern Kharkiv.

In a sombre observance, Ukraine held a nationwide moment of silence on Defenders Day, the third since Russia initiated its full-scale invasion in 2022. Although official figures on war casualties are not released, estimates suggest that tens of thousands of soldiers have been killed.

By Tamilla Hasanova