In the early hours of Friday, Russian authorities reported a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack on the Lipetsk region in southwestern Russia, approximately 200 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
Air Defense Activatied to Counter Drones
According to Governor Igor Artamonov, Russian air defense systems were activated to counter the drones. He stated that explosive devices were detonated away from civilian structures, although a power infrastructure was damaged when a drone crashed, leading to electricity outages in the area.
According to Digi24 the drone strikes are part of a broader pattern of escalating Ukrainian attacks on Russian territories. Another drone assault was reported in the Belgorod region, close to the Ukrainian border.
Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov confirmed that Russian air defense had intercepted and downed 29 drones, causing material damage but no casualties.
Attacks from Both Air and Sea
Meanwhile, in Sevastopol, located in the Russian-annexed Crimea, Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev reported drone attacks from both air and sea, continuing the trend of increased Ukrainian military activities in the region.
Additionally, powerful explosions and fires were reported in the Russian town of Rylsk in the Kursk region overnight. The cause of these explosions remains unclear, and the information provided by Russian authorities has yet to be independently verified.
The Kursk region has recently been a focal point of Ukrainian military operations, with more than a thousand Ukrainian soldiers and dozens of armored vehicles reportedly participating in a surprise offensive that began earlier this week. Russian forces are currently engaged in efforts to repel these incursions.
