ISTANBUL

Ukraine said on Wednesday its air defenses shot down 74 of 95 drones launched by Russia since Tuesday evening, while Moscow claimed it destroyed 26 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over its territory overnight.

According to Ukraine’s air force, Russian forces launched Shahed attack UAVs and simulator drones from Kursk, Millerovo, Orel and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, as well as from Chauda in the occupied Crimean peninsula.

By 0600GMT on Aug. 27, 74 Shahed-type UAVs and simulator drones had been neutralized in northern, southern and eastern regions of Ukraine, the air force said, adding that 21 drones hit nine locations.

Ukraine’s Energy Ministry said energy and gas transmission infrastructure in six regions – Sumy, Poltava, Donetsk, Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Zaporizhia – was struck.

It said power was cut in parts of Sumy after a UAV damaged equipment at a key substation at around 2200GMT, while a “comprehensive” attack on gas facilities in Poltava region caused significant damage.

On the Russian side, the Defense Ministry said its air defense units downed 26 Ukrainian UAVs overnight.

“Fifteen UAVs were destroyed over the Rostov region, four over Oryol, three over Belgorod, two over Bryansk and two over Kursk,” the ministry said in a statement.

The Rostov region’s acting governor, Yuri Slyusar, said drones were intercepted in Rostov-on-Don, Taganrog, Novoshakhtinsk and four districts, adding that several private houses and cars sustained shrapnel damage.

According to preliminary data, no one was hurt, he said, adding that assessments would continue during the day.