Did Russian Defence Ministry Really Down 250 Ukrainian Drones Targeting Moscow?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 250 drones intercepted by Russian air defences.
- 12 drones targeted the Moscow region.
- Russian forces attacked Ukrainian military sites.
- No casualties or damage reported in Russia.
- Flight paths of drones traced back to Ukrainian regions.
Moscow, Jan 1 (NationPress) The Russian Defence Ministry reported that 250 drones have been intercepted by their air defences within the last 24 hours, with 12 targeting the Moscow region during the night.
Additionally, they managed to shoot down a guided aerial bomb and a Ukrainian Su-27 aircraft, according to the ministry.
Russian armed forces have successfully struck various Ukrainian military assets, including energy facilities, ammunition storage sites, drone manufacturing locations, and 154 temporary deployment areas utilized by the Ukrainian military and foreign mercenaries.
On Wednesday, the Ministry of Defence released a flight path and video evidence showing the remnants of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) involved in an attempted strike on the official residence of President Vladimir Putin.
During a routine press briefing, the ministry showcased footage of the intercepted drones, revealing debris such as black UAV fragments, wooden structural elements, and red electrical wiring scattered across the snowy interception sites.
The ministry also provided a comprehensive flight map detailing the routes taken by the drones, as reported by the Xinhua news agency. The map indicates that the UAVs were launched from Ukraine's Sumy and Chernihiv regions, traversing over Russia's Bryansk, Smolensk, and Tver regions before their destruction.
Some drones followed a nearly direct eastern trajectory, while others took a longer route, skirting the Russia-Belarus border through the Bryansk and Smolensk regions and later approaching the border between Tver and Pskov.
According to the ministry, interception points highlighted on the map indicate the drones were taken down over the Bryansk, Smolensk, and Novgorod regions.
The ministry confirmed that the attempted attack occurred overnight between Sunday and Monday, resulting in no casualties and causing no damage to Russian territory or the presidential estate.