Russia Intercepts 210 Ukrainian Drones in Fierce Aerial Confrontation

Russia says it shot down 210 Ukrainian drones in massive overnight strikes, marking the second consecutive day of intense aerial attacks. This represents one of the largest drone assaults since the war began over three years ago, with Ukrainian forces pushing deeper into Russian territory than ever before.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported intercepting 62 drones over the Kursk region and 31 over Belgorod, both border areas that have become frequent targets. But what makes this attack different is how far Ukrainian drones reached into Russian territory.

Early morning strikes extended the assault, with Russian forces claiming to have downed another 25 drones, including 16 over the Black Sea. Most concerning for Moscow was the interception of 30 drones over Nizhny Novgorod, a region hundreds of kilometers east of the capital and far from the Ukrainian border.

This escalation shows Ukraine's growing ability to strike deep inside Russia, potentially targeting military infrastructure and supply lines that Moscow previously considered safe. The sustained two-day campaign suggests Ukraine has built up significant drone production capacity, likely with Western technical support.

For Russia, defending against such large-scale drone swarms puts enormous strain on air defense systems. These resources must now protect vast areas of Russian territory rather than just frontline positions. The attacks also force Russia to spread its military assets thinner, potentially weakening its offensive capabilities in Ukraine.

The timing coincides with Ukraine's ongoing diplomatic push for more Western military aid and permission to use long-range weapons against Russian targets. These drone strikes demonstrate Ukraine's commitment to taking the fight to Russian soil, regardless of Western restrictions on other weapon systems.