Russian forces destroyed 36 Ukrainian drones overnight in regions near the border, Moscow's defense ministry said Monday.
"Air defense systems on duty destroyed and suppressed 18 UAVs over Bryansk region, nine UAVs were destroyed over Kursk region and nine UAVs over Belgorod region," the ministry said in a Telegram post.
The ministry said on Sunday its forces had shot down another 36 Ukrainian drones in border areas.
Up to 90% of the Belgorod region experienced a power outage after the drones stuck several of its stations, according to the pro-Kremlin Telegram news channel Mash.
The Belgorod-based independent news outlet Pepel published videos of what it said were attacks on local power substations.
Authorities in the neighboring Kursk and Voronezh regions warned of possible outages there as well.
Both Russia and Ukraine have used drones, including larger self-detonating craft with ranges stretching hundreds of kilometers, extensively throughout the war, which began in February 2022.
Ukraine has stepped up its attacks on Russian territory this year, targeting both energy sites that it says fuel Russia's military, as well as towns and villages just across the border.
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a major new land offensive on Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region in May, in an operation to create a buffer zone and push Ukrainian forces back to protect Russia's border Belgorod region from shelling.
AFP contributed reporting.
… we have a small favor to ask. As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.
Remind me later.
