Overnight Drone Warfare Escalates in Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Moscow

In one of the most intense nights of aerial warfare in recent months, Russia and Ukraine exchanged large-scale drone and missile strikes, disrupting air traffic and intensifying an already volatile battlefield. According to Russia’s Ministry of Defence, its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 102 Ukrainian fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) overnight, spanning multiple regions across western and central Russia.

The drones were neutralised between 9:50 p.m. Monday and 5:50 a.m. Tuesday, with the heaviest activity reported over Bryansk (46 drones), Belgorod (20), Voronezh and Crimea (nine each), and other oblasts including Kaluga, Tatarstan, and Moscow. As a result, flights were temporarily suspended in airports serving both Moscow and St. Petersburg. Russian officials reported no damage from the UAV strikes.

Meanwhile, Ukraine faced what officials described as the largest aerial assault since the full-scale war began over three years ago. Between Sunday night and early Monday, Russia deployed a staggering 479 UAVs alongside 20 missiles, targeting key infrastructure in central and western Ukraine. The Ukrainian Air Force claimed to have intercepted 277 drones and 19 missiles, though at least 10 projectiles hit their marks, injuring one civilian. Independent verification of these figures remains pending.

The aerial attacks coincided with renewed Russian offensives along the eastern and northeastern fronts, spanning a 1,000-kilometre (620-mile) war zone. With peace negotiations stalled and both sides escalating, the conflict shows little sign of easing.