KYIV, Ukraine — Greater than 100 Ukrainian drones had been shot down over Russia Sunday, officers stated, sparking a wildfire and setting an condominium block alight in one of many largest barrages seen over Russian skies since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Russia’s Ministry of Protection reported that it had shot down 125 drones in a single day throughout seven areas. The southwestern area of Volgograd got here beneath notably heavy hearth, with 67 Ukrainian drones reportedly downed by Russian air defenses.
Seventeen drones had been additionally seen over Russia’s Voronezh area, the place falling particles broken an condominium block and a non-public dwelling, stated native governor Aleksandr Gusev. Pictures on social media confirmed flames rising from the home windows of the highest ground of a high-rise constructing. No casualties had been reported.
An additional 18 drones had been reported over Russia’s Rostov area, the place falling particles sparked a wildfire, stated Gov. Vasily Golubev.
He stated that the fireplace didn’t pose a risk to populated areas, however that emergency providers had been combating to extinguish the blaze, which had engulfed 20 hectares (49.4 acres) of forest.
In the meantime, 13 civilians had been injured in an in a single day barrage on the southern Ukrainian metropolis of Zaporizhzhia Sunday after Ukrainian navy leaders warned that Moscow could possibly be getting ready for a brand new navy offensive in the nation’s south.
Town was focused by Russian information bombs in 10 separate assaults that broken a high-rise constructing and several other residential houses, regional governor Ivan Fedorov wrote on his official Telegram channel. Extra individuals might nonetheless be trapped beneath the rubble, he stated.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy additionally stated that the Zaporizhzhia assault had broken town’s transport hyperlinks. “At present, Russia struck Zaporizhzhia with aerial bombs. Extraordinary residential buildings had been broken and the doorway of 1 constructing was destroyed. Town’s infrastructure and railway had been additionally broken,” Zelenskyy stated in a submit on X, previously Twitter.
“In complete, 13 individuals had been injured, and two had been rescued from beneath the rubble. I thank all of the emergency providers for his or her speedy response and offering needed help. The rubble clearing remains to be ongoing.”
The assaults come after the Ukrainian navy warned Saturday that Russian forces could also be getting ready for offensive operations within the wider Zaporizhzhia area. Vladyslav Voloshyn, spokesperson for Ukraine’s southern navy command, stated that Russia was amassing personnel on this course.
Ukraine’s air drive additionally reported that 22 Russian drones had been launched over the nation in a single day. It stated that 15 had been shot down in Ukraine’s Sumy, Vinnytsia, Mykolaiv, and Odesa areas, and that 5 extra had been destroyed utilizing digital defenses. The destiny of the remaining two drones was not specified. ___
Observe AP’s protection of the conflict in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
