Russia shoots down 42 Ukrainian drones over Crimea (Agerpres.ro)
Russia's Defense Ministry said on Friday that it had shot down 42 Ukrainian drones over Crimea, describing a rare and significant attack on the peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014.
"Nine drones were destroyed by impact of shots over the territory of the Republic of Crimea. 33 drones were neutralised by electronic warfare means and crashed without reaching their target," the Defense Ministry said in a Telegram post.
The ministry did not provide any information about possible casualties or damage as a result of the destruction of the devices.
Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvojayev had earlier announced that several aircraft had been shot down off the peninsula "in the area of Cape Chersonesos," located about 10 kilometres from Sevastopol.
Moscow also said on Friday that it had shot down a Ukrainian missile targeting "civilian targets" in the Kaluga region as well as "multiple drones" off Crimea.
"A Kyiv attempt to attack 'civilian targets on the territory of the Russian Federation was thwarted," the Defense Ministry said on Telegram.
"The missile was detected and destroyed by air defence systems over the territory of the Kaluga region" southwest of the Russian capital, the source added without providing information on the targeted locations or any casualties or damage.
The Russian news agency TASS also reported the closure of air traffic at Vnukovo and Domodedovo international airports in Moscow on Friday morning, citing sources in the aviation industry.
Kaluga region borders Moscow, which has been targeted several times in recent days by Ukrainian drones, according to Russian authorities.
