Russia Reports Downing 660 Ukrainian Drones in Overnight Attacks, Among Highest Since Conflict Began

Russian air defence systems shot down 660 Ukrainian drones overnight, the Russian Defence Ministry announced on Friday, marking one of the highest single-day figures since the conflict began over four years ago.

The drones were intercepted over more than a dozen regions, including the Moscow region, the annexed Crimean Peninsula, the Black Sea, and the Sea of Azov, according to a statement on Russia's state-run Max platform.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said at least 47 drones targeting the capital were destroyed. “Emergency services specialists are working where the debris fell,” he wrote on Telegram, adding that no casualties or damage had been reported.

In the Tula region, approximately 180 km south of Moscow, Governor Dmitry Milyaev reported a “massive” drone attack. “A private residential house was damaged in a settlement in Shchekino district, as a result of which a woman was wounded,” Milyaev said on Telegram.

Ukraine has intensified its long-range drone strikes against Russia in recent months, focusing on energy infrastructure. Kyiv aims to reduce Moscow’s revenue from energy exports, which fund its war effort, now in its fifth year.

Last week, a Ukrainian attack caused a fire at a refinery in southeastern Moscow. The sustained campaign reflects Ukraine's strategy to disrupt Russian logistics and economic stability.

This report is based solely on Russian official statements. Independent verification of the claims was not immediately possible. Both sides routinely report drone and missile interceptions, and civilian casualties have been documented from both aerial attacks and ground fighting.

The conflict, which began in February 2022, continues to exact a heavy toll. Drone warfare has become a central feature, with both Ukraine and Russia deploying unmanned systems for reconnaissance, strikes, and defence.