Kyiv calls overnight assault largest to date, Moscow says 69 Ukrainian drones intercepted
Ukraine said on Sunday that Russia launched a record 818 drones and missiles overnight against its territory, surpassing the previous high of 728 in July, while Moscow claimed its air defenses destroyed 69 Ukrainian drones over several Russian regions and the Sea of Azov.
According to Ukraine’s Air Force command, the assault began late Friday and involved 805 Shahed drones and simulator UAVs, nine Iskander-K cruise missiles, and four Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles launched from Russian regions and occupied Crimea.
“According to preliminary data, as of 08:30 (0530GMT), air defense systems shot down/suppressed 751 air targets: 747 enemy Shahed-type UAVs and simulator drones of various types; four Iskander-K cruise missiles,” the Air Force said on Telegram.
It noted that hits from nine missiles and 56 drones were recorded at 37 locations across the country, with fragments of downed aircraft falling in eight areas.
The military underlined that this was the largest attack since July 9, when Russian forces launched 728 drones and 13 missiles, of which 711 drones and seven missiles were destroyed.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces destroyed 69 Ukrainian UAVs overnight across multiple regions.
“On September 7, from midnight to 06:30 Moscow time (0330GMT), air defense systems on duty destroyed and intercepted 69 Ukrainian aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles,” the ministry said.
According to its statement, 21 drones were shot down in Krasnodar Krai, 13 in Voronezh, 10 in Belgorod, seven in Astrakhan, six in Volgograd, three in Rostov, two in Bryansk, and one each in Kursk, Ryazan, and Crimea. It added that four UAVs were intercepted over the Sea of Azov.
The latest strikes come amid continued aerial warfare between Kyiv and Moscow, with both sides intensifying cross-border drone attacks in recent weeks.
