ISTANBUL

Russia claimed on Thursday that its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 130 Ukrainian drones overnight across several regions.

The Defense Ministry in a statement said the attacks occurred between late Wednesday and early Thursday, targeting areas along the border as well as regions deeper inside Russian territory.

As many as 32 drones were downed over the Kursk and Belgorod regions, while 20 others were intercepted over Voronezh, according to the ministry.

It added that 17 UAVs were also destroyed over the Black Sea, seven over Crimea, six over Oryol, five over Krasnodar, four over Tambov, three over Rostov, two over Bryansk, and one each over Tula and the Moscow region.

Ukraine did not immediately comment on the claims, and independent verification remains difficult due to the ongoing war.