Ukraine launched more than 200 drones into Russian territory in a coordinated overnight assault on the eve of President Vladimir Putin’s 73rd birthday.
Between late October 6 and the morning of October 7, Russia’s Ministry of Defense said it intercepted and destroyed 209 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions, 184 during the night, followed by 25 more between 7 and 8 a.m., most of them over the Black Sea.
The attack, which came as Putin celebrated his birthday, appeared to be a symbolic message from Kyiv amid a grinding war that has seen intensified drone use on both sides.
Russia’s Defense Ministry released a detailed breakdown of the drones shot down across at least a dozen regions, including:
- 62 over Kursk
- 31 over Belgorod
- 30 over Nizhny Novgorod
- 18 over Voronezh
- 13 over the Black Sea
Drones were intercepted over Lipetsk, Kaluga, Tula, Rostov, Ryazan, Bryansk, Oryol, Crimea, Moscow, and even Vologda, more than 500 miles from the Ukrainian border.
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Ukraine Attacks Russia on Putin’s Birthday
Moscow reported that its air defenses intercepted several drones heading toward the capital early Saturday, with one reportedly flying directly toward the city.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said emergency crews were dispatched to deal with debris at one of the impact sites. No casualties were reported in the capital.
Russian authorities confirmed two fatalities in the Belgorod region during a separate Ukrainian strike on Monday, part of what officials described as a broader escalation of drone warfare.
The Russian government has increasingly characterized such drone attacks as terrorism, though Ukraine sees them as strategic efforts to disrupt military and logistical infrastructure deep inside Russian territory.
Both nations have accelerated their development and deployment of drone technology in a conflict now approaching its third year.
The Russian Defense Ministry said this latest wave was among the largest since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
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In total, officials claim 250 drones were intercepted in the past two days.
Zelensky on US Purchasing Patriot Air Defense Systems
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Washington has lifted its ban on the purchase of US-made Patriot air defense systems, though funding remains a challenge.
In a briefing published via the Telegram channel Novosti Live, Zelensky said:
“The Americans have lifted the ban on buying Patriot systems, not only the missiles but the systems themselves. The issue now is funding”
“Once the diplomatic restrictions were lifted, other shortages appeared. Therefore, I’m relying on frozen assets.”
According to the channel, Kyiv continues to receive other air defense systems, including NASAMS and HAWK units.
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