Imagine this: a swarm of 110 drones launched by Ukraine flew into western Russia overnight. The Kremlin says all were shot down, but Kyiv claims they hit key targets like a munitions plant and a military airfield. This is one of the largest attacks from Ukraine since the war started over two and a half years ago. Russia, however, insists its air defense systems successfully intercepted all incoming drones.
Russia’s defense ministry reported where the drones were downed: 43 near Kursk, 27 over Lipetsk, 18 over Oryol, and so on. In Nizhny Novgorod, the attack targeted the Sverdlov Plant, causing minor shrapnel wounds to four firefighters. While Russia claims success, Ukraine celebrates what it sees as a hit on strategic sites. The Dzerzhinsk plant, for instance, is sanctioned by the U. S. and EU for producing military supplies. Both sides share updates, but each tells a different story.
Governors from the affected regions gave their takes. Gov. Gleb Nikitin from Nizhny Novgorod reported minor injuries, while Gov. Igor Artamonov from Lipetsk stated no casualties and quick fire handling. Gov. Andrey Klychkov from Oryol mentioned no damage, and Gov. Alexei Smirnov from Kursk warned about the strike without details. This back-and-forth shows the complexity and differing narratives in this ongoing conflict.
Meanwhile, Russia also attacked Ukraine, injuring at least 17 people in Kryvyi Rih. This tit-for-tat continues under global scrutiny, with Russia facing sanctions and turning to allies like Iran for supplies. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted that Russia has used over 6, 100 Iranian drones against Ukraine this year alone, and Ukraine’s need for stronger defensive systems is clear.
