Russia downs more than 150 Ukrainian kamikaze drones in merely 24 hours
(MENAFN) Russian air defenses intercepted more than 150 Ukrainian long-range kamikaze drones within a 24-hour period, according to a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry on Monday.
The ministry reported that 96 drones were shot down between 8 p.m. Sunday and Monday morning, and 148 were intercepted over the broader 22-hour timeframe from 10 a.m. Sunday to 8 a.m. Monday. An additional five drones were reportedly destroyed around 8 a.m. Monday.
Ukraine has ramped up its drone assault strategy, moving from nighttime raids to continuous drone strikes targeting areas deep within Russian territory. One such drone hit the dome of a cathedral in Tula Region on Sunday, sparking a fire, as confirmed by local authorities and footage shared online.
Eyewitnesses in various regions filmed the interceptions. One video from Tatarstan appears to capture defense systems operating near the industrial city of Yelabuga. Another shows reactions in Tula during a drone engagement. In Ramenskoye, southeast of Moscow, six drones were reportedly intercepted overnight, according to the Defense Ministry.
Last week, Russia retaliated with a series of long-range missile strikes in Ukraine, including an attack on a drone manufacturing facility in Kiev, which Moscow claims was used to produce fixed-wing UAVs.
Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump, who is positioning himself as a potential peace mediator, criticized both Russian and Ukrainian leaders. On Sunday, Trump accused Vladimir Putin of launching unjustified strikes on Kiev and said Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s remarks were exacerbating the conflict, claiming, “everything out of his mouth causes problems.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov asserted that Ukraine's intensified drone campaign is a deliberate move to derail recently resumed peace talks with Moscow, a process Ukraine rejoined under pressure from Washington. Lavrov blamed Western nations, including the UK, France, Germany, and EU leaders, for encouraging this disruption.
Following a recent phone conversation with Putin, Trump reportedly informed NATO allies and Zelensky that he would oppose new sanctions on Russia—a stance that reportedly left many European leaders frustrated, according to The Guardian.
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