Russian regions on high alert as air defences down 29 drones While Moscow targets Kyiv

Air defence forces intercepted and destroyed 29 drones over various Russian regions during the night of November 13, according to a statement from the Russian Defence Ministry.

The ministry detailed that seven drones were shot down over both the Kursk and Belgorod regions, five over the Tver and Bryansk regions, three over the Penza region, and two over the Voronezh region, Caliber.Az reports citing the ministry's message on Telegram.

In the Belgorod region, the town of Shebekino and the village of Oktyabrsky in the Belgorod district were hit, as reported by regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov overnight. In Shebekino, a fire broke out in an outbuilding of a private house as a result of shelling, but it was extinguished. Another house had its windows shattered and its facade damaged, Gladkov noted. In Oktyabrsky, a drone struck a private house, setting the roof ablaze; the fire was later put out. The governor did not provide information about any potential casualties.

Later in the morning, Gladkov updated that Shebekino had come under fire again, resulting in broken windows in five private homes and damage to three vehicles. Power lines were also hit, leaving parts of the town without electricity temporarily. According to preliminary information from Gladkov, no residents were injured.

In the Bryansk region, Governor Alexander Bogomaz reported the successful destruction of five drones and confirmed that no injuries were sustained. In Penza, Governor Oleg Melnichenko stated that three drones crashed in a forest near the Montazhny settlement on the morning of November 13. There were no injuries or damage to residential buildings, he added. The governor of the Voronezh region confirmed that several drones had been shot down but did not specify the exact number, also noting there were no casualties.

In the Kursk region, a warning about drone attacks was issued on the evening of November 12 but was lifted by morning, as indicated by messages from regional head Alexei Smirnov on Telegram. He did not comment on any UAV incidents. Authorities in the Tver region similarly refrained from commenting on the overnight drone activity.

On the previous night of November 12, the Defence Ministry reported that 13 drones were downed over Russian regions, with nine destroyed over Belgorod, two over Bryansk, and two over Kursk.

In a separate development, Russia launched a cruise missile attack on Kyiv on the morning of November 13. The head of Kyiv's military administration, Sergei Popko, confirmed the incident. "The air alert is related to the missile danger due to the threat of launching cruise missiles from Tu-95MS aircraft!" Popko wrote, urging residents to heed air raid alerts and take shelter.

Early on November 13, the Ukrainian Air Force observed up to six Russian Tu-95MS aircraft taking off from Olenegorsk, followed by cruise missile launches. Concurrently, Russia attacked Ukraine with ballistic missiles and Shahed drones, targeting Kyiv. An air raid alarm sounded in the capital, air defence systems were activated, and explosions were reported.

Earlier, on November 6, a Russian military strike on Zaporizhzhia resulted in seven deaths and 25 injuries.

By Tamilla Hasanova