Russia claims downing 45 Ukrainian drones over multiple regions, including Moscow

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Russia claimed on Wednesday that it downed 45 Ukrainian drones during attack on multiple regions of the country overnight, including the capital Moscow.

A statement by the Defense Ministry said 11 drones launched by Ukraine were shot down over the Moscow region, and another three over the neighboring Kaluga region.

The ministry said 23 other drones were downed over the border region of Bryansk, while six and two others were “destroyed” over the Belgorod and Kursk regions, respectively, which are also adjacent to Ukraine.

Moscow mayor Sergey Sobyanin said there were no casualties or damage, but said the attack on the capital was "one of the largest attempts to attack Moscow with drones ever."

Ukrainian authorities have not yet commented on the claims, though Ukraine’s General Staff claimed hitting an S-300 missile defense system near the city of Novoshakhtinsk in Rostov.

Rostov Governor Vasily Golubev said on Telegram that a missile was downed in the west of the region, and that there were no casualties or damage according to preliminary information.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​