UPDATE - Russia claims its air defense systems downed, intercepted 41 Ukrainian drones

ADDS STATEMENT BY UKRAINIAN GENERAL STAFF ON AIR ATTACKS CONDUCTED IN PAST 24 HOURS

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) – Russia on Tuesday claimed that its air defense systems downed or intercepted a total of 41 Ukrainian drones amid two attacks overnight and early in the day.

An initial statement by the Russian Defense Ministry claimed that 22 drones were destroyed by air defense systems on duty, while another 13 were intercepted over the Sea of Azov and the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014.

A later statement further claimed that air defense systems destroyed four Ukrainian aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles and intercepted two more over the Sea of Azov.

Ukraine's General Staff claimed in a morning update that the country's air force launched 12 strikes on Russian targets in the past 24 hours, including two strikes on anti-aircraft missile systems.

Independent verification of the claims by Russia and Ukraine is difficult due to the ongoing war.