Russia announced on Friday morning that it had shot down 777 Ukrainian drones overnight, targeting around fifteen regions and Crimea. The attacks have reportedly resulted in two fatalities, according to AFP.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated, “During the past night, air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 777 Ukrainian drones.” This large-scale assault follows a statement earlier this month by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who declared an aim to deploy 1,000 drones daily for long-range strikes into Russian territory.
Targets Struck in Recent Attacks
Reports indicate fires and explosions occurred at a refinery and a logistics center, Ozon, in Saratov, while industrial and residential sites sustained damage in Volgograd, as per information from regions cited by the Kyiv Post.
Online images depict significant fires at the Ozon warehouse, which ranks as the second largest online retailer in Russia, claiming about one-third of the market.
Additionally, according to the Telegram channel Astra, the Saratov refinery also caught fire. This site has previously been targeted in at least 16 attacks.
Roman Busarghin, the governor, remarked, “All emergency services have been put on high alert.”
Casualties from Recent Drone Attacks
In the Tula region, located approximately 200 km south of Moscow, governor Dmitri Miliaev reported, “Unfortunately, two people have been killed” as a result of the drone attacks. He noted that three others were injured.
In Volgograd, two individuals were hospitalized following a strike from Ukrainian missiles that hit a residential building, as stated by regional governor Andrei Botcharov in a statement.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has intensified over the past few months, with air attacks increasingly targeting civilian infrastructure, such as factories, refineries, warehouses, port facilities, and vessels, resulting in a growing number of civilian casualties.
