Russia-Ukraine War (Image Source: PTI)
The Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday that its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 339 Ukrainian drones over a 13-hour period, in one of the largest reported drone attacks in recent months.The interceptions took place in several Russian regions, including areas surrounding Moscow, according to a Reuters report.The reported attacks come as Russia and Ukraine continue to rely heavily on drone warfare, targeting military infrastructure and strategic locations far from the front lines.Interceptions were reported across 13 regionsThe Ministry of Defense said, in a statement posted on the Telegram app, that the drones were shot down on Friday.
The ministry listed 13 areas where air defense units are active, in addition to areas over the Black Sea.The affected areas included several parts of central Russia as well as the northwestern regions of Leningrad and Pskov, indicating the wide geographic spread of reported drone activity.Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin issued a series of updates throughout the day.Flight operations have been temporarily suspendedDrone activity also disrupted civilian air traffic. The Russian Civil Aviation Authority announced the temporary suspension of flights at several airports during the day as a precautionary measure.
Russian news agencies reported that authorities issued four separate suspension orders affecting airports in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, highlighting the broader impact of security measures resulting from the reported drone attacks.Ukraine is still under attackRussian attacks continued to cause casualties across the country. The governor of the Zaporizhya region, Ivan Fedorov, said that the bodies of two men who were missing after a Russian attack were recovered on Saturday.On Thursday, the Ukrainian authorities reported that at least 12 people were killed and dozens injured in Russian strikes across the country.Amid the escalating attacks, Zelensky renewed calls for an end to the conflict, saying Russia must stop its military campaign against Ukraine.“Russia must end its war and stop its attacks on life. Any manifestation of injustice against Ukraine will receive a fair response. It is time to end this war,” he said.However, Putin rejected the proposal for direct talks after Zelensky sent him an open letter.