Massive Ukrainian Drone Attacks on Russia; Russian Authorities Report 456 Drones Downed and Two Deaths

A powerful wave of Ukrainian drone attacks struck several areas of Russia overnight. The Russian Defense Ministry said air defenses had neutralized 456 drones which, according to Moscow, targeted around 15 Russian regions as well as annexed Crimea.

The reported death toll so far stands at two. The fatalities were confirmed by local authorities in Tatarstan and Belgorod, while several regions remained on alert.

The heaviest strikes in Tatarstan were recorded in the industrial city of Nizhnekamsk, located around 1,600 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Regional authorities described the attacks as “massive,” saying both industrial facilities and civilian areas had been targeted.

“Unfortunately, there are casualties,” authorities said, as reports of attacks continued into the morning.

In Belgorod, a Russian region near the border with Ukraine, a woman was killed after a drone struck a home in the Novaya Tavolzhanka area.

The incident comes amid an intensification of long-range attacks in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The war has entered its fourth year, while diplomatic efforts remain stalled and Moscow and Kyiv are stepping up strikes on each other’s territory.

The use of drones has resulted in a growing number of civilian casualties as both sides continue to use long-range weapons to strike targets far from the front line.