Russia says air defenses downed 152 Ukrainian drones in 12 hours

MOSCOW — Russia's Defense Ministry said on Friday that Russian air defenses shot down 152 Ukrainian drones over a 12-hour period between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Moscow time on August 1. In its statement, the ministry said on-duty air defense units intercepted and destroyed the drones across multiple regions. According to the ministry, the drones were downed over the Kaluga, Tula, Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Lipetsk and Oryol regions, as well as over Krasnodar Krai, the Republic of Crimea and the Republic of Bashkortostan. The ministry added that interceptions also took place over the waters of the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea. The ministry did not provide a detailed regional breakdown of the interceptions. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine.