Russia says it downed 200 Ukrainian drones in 12-hour period

Russia's Defense Ministry said Wednesday that air defense systems intercepted 200 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions and over the Black Sea between 08:00 and 20:00 Moscow time. The ministry said the drones were brought down in the airspace of Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Lipetsk, Oryol, Ryazan, Tula, Moscow and its surroundings, Krasnodar region, the Republic of Crimea, the Republic of Bashkortostan and the Republic of Tatarstan, with additional interceptions reported over the Black Sea. The statement was issued through an official Defense Ministry announcement detailing operations during the 12-hour window. The ministry described its air defense systems as operating actively in response to what it characterized as a recent increase in Ukrainian drone strikes. No official response to the reported attack had been issued by Ukraine at the time of the Russian announcement. The figure of 200 drones intercepted in a single reporting window is among the highest such tallies released by the ministry in recent months.