Russia says it intercepted 339 Ukrainian drones

Russia's Defence Ministry said its air defense units intercepted 339 Ukrainian drones in multiple regions overnight, as Kyiv continued its long-range campaign against military and infrastructure targets deep inside Russian territory.

The ministry said the drones were shot down across several regions, including areas near Moscow and northwestern Russia. Russian authorities did not immediately report major casualties, though temporary flight restrictions and security measures were introduced in some locations.

One of the largest drone barrages

The reported attack ranks among the biggest Ukrainian drone operations of the war. In recent weeks, Ukraine has intensified strikes on Russian oil facilities, military sites and logistics hubs far from the front line.

Russian officials said air defense systems remained on high alert as they worked to repel successive waves of drones targeting strategic infrastructure.

Ukraine expands long-range campaign

Kyiv rarely comments on specific drone operations but has increasingly relied on domestically produced long-range drones to strike targets inside Russia. Ukrainian officials argue the attacks are aimed at weakening Moscow's military capabilities and disrupting support for the war effort.

The latest barrage came days after Ukrainian drones targeted facilities around St. Petersburg and other regions, prompting heightened security measures across Russia.

Drone war intensifies

Drone warfare has become a defining feature of the conflict, with both sides launching hundreds of unmanned aircraft in increasingly sophisticated attacks. Russia continues to carry out large-scale missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities, while Ukraine has expanded its ability to hit targets hundreds of kilometers beyond the battlefield.

The latest exchange underscores the escalating technological race between Moscow and Kyiv, even as prospects for a negotiated end to the war remain remote.