The Russian Defence Ministry said over 100 Ukrainian drones were intercepted over Russia and occupied Crimea on Saturday, just as a Ukrainian drone was reportedly targeted and destroyed in the Kursk region a day earlier.
An ammunition depot and missile arsenal in southwestern Russia caught fire in an attack Saturday in the Krasnodar region of Russia, triggering evacuations after the blaze caused a series of blasts.
Videos on social media showed bright orange clouds rising over the horizon, as dull thuds of detonations sounded almost continuously.
Russia’s Defence Ministry early on Saturday claimed that its forces overnight shot down 101 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory and occupied Crimea.
There were no immediate reports of casualties in either Russian region.
Zelenskyy will present ‘victory plan’ to US
The massive Ukrainian drone attack comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said ahead of his visit to the White House that Kyiv’s multi-point “victory plan” demands quick action from the United States.
The “victory plan” that Zelenskyy will present to President Joe Biden will include long-range striking capabilities and other weapons long sought by Kyiv, and will serve as the basis for any future negotiation with Russia, Zelenskyy told reporters ahead of next week’s trip.
He said US reluctance so far in allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons to strike deep inside Russia stems from fears of escalation from Moscow, a major global nuclear power. Ukraine has had to use its own capabilities to conduct strikes inside Russian territory.
“I think that Biden is really getting information from his entourage today that there may be an escalation. But, and this is important, not everyone around him thinks so. And this is already an achievement that not all of his entourage thinks so,” Zelenskyy said.
But the longer Western partners wait to allow the use of long-range missiles, the more tactically obsolete their value will become, Zelenskyy said.
Russian attacks on Kharkiv and Dnipro continue
Russian forces also attacked Ukrainian cities Kharkiv and Dnipro on Friday evening.
In Kharkiv, a Su-34 aircraft was used to launch three guided aerial bombs from Belgorod, the head of the Kharkiv regional prosecutor’s office, Oleksandr Filchakov, reported.
Filchakov said that an enemy bomb hit the territory of a private house in the Kholodnogorsky district of the city. In Shevchenkivskyi, a hit was recorded on the road near the hospital. Meanwhile, in Kyivskyi district, it hit the grounds of an enterprise.
Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov stated that the number of victims has increased to 15. All of them, except for the children, are in moderate condition. Two children and one adult suffered minor wounds. Eight of the victims have been hospitalised.
In Dnipro, a rocket attack destroyed several homes. According to locals, the blast wave damaged the roof of a house and smashed windows. Apartments were also damaged.
Volunteers are distributing building materials to the owners of the damaged apartments to help them repair the broken windows.
ADVERTISEMENTAccording to the regional military administration, a total of three high-rise buildings and 72 cars were damaged in the attack. Windows were also smashed in a six-storey educational building.