Russia says it downed 39 Ukrainian drones across four regions, Black Sea

Russia's Defense Ministry said on Friday that its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 39 Ukrainian drones between 08:00 and 20:00 Moscow time. In a daily statement, the ministry said the drones were brought down over the Belgorod, Kursk, Bryansk and Rostov regions, as well as over the coastal waters of the Black Sea. The ministry did not provide a regional breakdown of the number of drones intercepted in each area. It also did not specify the types of drones used or report any damage on the ground. The statement did not include any comments from Ukrainian authorities. Russia has issued similar claims in recent weeks, reporting daily intercepts of Ukrainian drones targeting border areas and regions deeper inside Russian territory. No further details were immediately available on the outcome of the reported interceptions.