The drone warfare between Ukraine and Russia has intensified, with Kyiv launching its largest drone attack since the conflict began. In response, Moscow targeted several regions in Ukraine with swarms of drones, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted ongoing imports of various components for Russian weaponry despite existing sanctions.
Russia reported that a widespread Ukrainian drone assault resulted in power outages in one of its border areas. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that its air defenses intercepted 251 Ukrainian drones overnight, noting that 40 were shot down over Crimea and another 62 in the Black Sea region.
Additional drones were also intercepted over the Kursk and Belgorod regions, as mentioned by the ministry. Belgorod, a border region in Russia, experienced another electricity outage due to the Ukrainian attack.
Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov announced via Telegram that the assault damaged energy infrastructure, and while energy companies have begun repairs, partial outages are affecting 24 residential areas with 5,400 residents impacted. Meanwhile, Ukrainian air defense forces successfully shot down 83 of the 116 drones launched by Russia during a nighttime air raid targeting northern, southern, eastern, and central Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces executed nighttime strikes using 116 drones launched from Melikhovo, Kursk, Bryansk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, and Chervonohryhorivka in Crimea. The statement indicated that the attack was thwarted by air defense units, electronic warfare teams, drones, and mobile fire units from both the Ukrainian Air Force and air defense.
In related news, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced in two statements that its forces had gained control of two new towns—one in Donetsk and the other in Kharkiv. The ministry claimed that its troops successfully expelled Ukrainian forces from the town of Kozminivka in the Donetsk region.
According to the ministry’s statement, units from the Russian Southern Group managed to take control of Kozminivka due to decisive operations. It was further claimed that Ukrainian forces incurred losses of up to 130 soldiers along with various military equipment.
The ministry also reported that Russian forces took control of the village of Ukradinoye in Kharkiv province. The statement noted that units from the Russian Northern Group effectively liberated the town through successful operations.
Additionally, the announcement detailed that Ukrainian military units, including a mechanized infantry brigade and a regional defense brigade, were targeted near the villages of Ambarni, Vovchansk, and Chuhunivka in Kharkiv province.
President Zelenskyy expressed concerns that many components of Russian weapons continue to be sourced from abroad despite sanctions placed on Moscow. In a social media post, he commented that during the extensive assault on Ukraine, Russia employed 549 weapon systems containing 102,785 components manufactured overseas.
The president specified that these components include parts made by companies located in Germany, the United States, China, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. Zelenskyy emphasized the discovery of over 100,000 foreign-manufactured parts in combat drones. He remarked that Ukraine’s partners possess detailed information about the companies and products involved, stressing the importance of preventing any circumvention of sanctions, as Russia is exploiting every loophole to continue its aggression.