In a dramatic overnight showdown, Russian air defenses crushed a record-breaking wave of Ukrainian drone attacks, shooting down an astonishing 115 unmanned aircraft, Moscow’s Defense Ministry confirmed early Monday.
Most of the action centered over Bryansk Region, where Russian forces intercepted a staggering 102 drones alone. Despite the overwhelming success, tragedy struck: Governor Aleksandr Bogomaz reported that one civilian was killed and another injured when debris from a downed drone hit civilian infrastructure.
“The Kiev regime once again resorted to terrorism,” Bogomaz declared, expressing condolences while noting that the injured woman was quickly hospitalized and is receiving care.
Elsewhere, Russian forces flexed their muscles by intercepting additional drones: ten over Crimea and the Black Sea, two over Kursk Region, and one over Belgorod Region. Compared to last week’s Ukrainian drone offensive — where 87 drones were neutralized — this latest attack was bigger, bolder, and deadlier, yet it failed to overwhelm Russia’s defenses.
Adding to the backdrop, President Vladimir Putin had called for a 30-hour Easter truce, ordering Russian troops to hold fire unless directly attacked. However, according to Moscow, Ukraine violated the ceasefire a staggering 4,900 times. Kiev’s President Vladimir Zelensky, unsurprisingly, fired back with accusations against Moscow, claiming widespread breaches.
After the short-lived lull, the Russian military wasted no time. It launched a series of precision strikes against Ukrainian military sites and key infrastructure last week. Ukrainian officials have since reported at least 12 deaths and over 100 wounded — with the capital, Kiev, absorbing much of the blow. Moscow, however, insists its targets are strictly military in nature, brushing off claims of deliberate civilian strikes.
With the skies over Bryansk littered with wreckage and tensions mounting, it’s clear: the battle between Russia and Ukraine is far from cooling down — and Russia’s aerial defenses just chalked up one of their most decisive wins yet.
