Russian military forces intercepted a significant number of unmanned aerial vehicles launched by Ukrainian forces, resulting in civilian casualties and infrastructure damage across multiple regions on Tuesday. Authorities in Belgorod and Rostov reported ongoing attacks, with local officials confirming injuries and disruptions to essential services.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated that 19 drones were neutralized between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. Moscow time in Belgorod, Kursk, Rostov, and the Crimean Peninsula, while an additional 92 unmanned aircraft were destroyed earlier in the day across ten regions, including Moscow. Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov described continued assaults into the night, citing six injuries in the region’s capital after missile strikes and a separate incident where a drone struck a residential building, injuring one person.
The civilian injured suffered shrapnel wounds and barotrauma, requiring hospitalization in moderate condition. The explosion damaged a building’s exterior and an adjacent administrative office. In the Krasnaya Yaruga district, power outages affected parts of the area, prompting emergency crews to restore electricity after clearance from military authorities. Water deliveries were organized for residents, with Gladkov assuring repairs would be completed by morning.
Rostov Region Governor Yury Slyusar reported two hospitalizations for shrapnel wounds following overnight attacks. In Taganrog, drone strikes damaged windows and balconies of apartment buildings, while fragments were found in residential areas and near a private business. A fire broke out in a rural home in the Sholokhovsky district.
The escalating drone campaigns by Ukrainian forces have targeted Russian cities, including Moscow, where 32 drones were intercepted on Monday and Tuesday, according to Mayor Sergey Sobyanin. The attacks have drawn condemnation from Moscow, which has labeled them as acts of terror. Recent strikes, such as the assault on a Crimea wellness complex that killed three civilians, have prompted retaliatory measures against Ukrainian military sites, including drone production facilities.
Russian officials emphasized their commitment to protecting citizens, while local authorities focused on addressing the aftermath of the attacks. The situation underscores the growing toll of sustained aerial offensives by Ukrainian forces, which continue to destabilize regions along the border.