Russia says air defences downed 136 Ukrainian drones overnight over several regions
In short
Russia's Defence Ministry said air defence forces intercepted and destroyed 136 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones overnight on 20 October. The ministry named regions from Belgorod to Tula and the Moscow region; outlets differ on how many regions were involved.
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Russia's Defence Ministry said that air defence forces destroyed 136 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles overnight on 20 October. TASS, RIA Novosti, Interfax, Kommersant and Vedomosti all carried the figure. TASS said on-duty air defence forces were working, and RIA Novosti quoted the ministry as saying the drones were intercepted and destroyed by on-duty air defence forces. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
According to RIA Novosti and Vedomosti, the drones were fixed-wing (aircraft-type). Vedomosti said the attacks were repelled between 20:00 Moscow time on 19 October and 08:00 Moscow time on 20 October. Kommersant said the drones were shot down over the border Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk and Smolensk regions and other regions of central Russia. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
The ministry's list of regions, as given by RIA Novosti, Interfax and Vedomosti, includes Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kaluga, Kursk, Lipetsk, Oryol, Pskov, Ryazan, Smolensk, Tambov and Tver. Interfax and Vedomosti also name Tula region, and both say the Moscow region was among the areas, with Interfax saying drones were destroyed over it. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
The documents differ on the number of regions. RIA Novosti says the drones were destroyed over 13 Russian regions, while Vedomosti says 15 regions. [ 2 , 5 ]
Vedomosti also reported that Rosaviatsia had restricted operations at the airports of Kaluga (Grabtsevo), Pskov and Moscow's Vnukovo since the evening of 19 October. At the time of publication the measures had been lifted. Vedomosti did not state the reason for the restrictions. [ 5 ]
Vedomosti added, citing the Russian defence ministry, that between 08:00 and 20:00 Moscow time on 19 October Russian forces downed 13 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones over Belgorod and Kursk regions, Crimea and Perm region. None of the documents reports damage or casualties. [ 5 ]
Why it matters
The reports show the scale of the overnight drone activity as described by Russia's Defence Ministry, which is the only source of the figure in these documents. No damage or casualties are mentioned in them.
Key facts
- Russia's Defence Ministry said air defence forces destroyed 136 Ukrainian drones overnight on 20 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The ministry described the drones as fixed-wing (aircraft-type) unmanned aerial vehicles. [ 2 , 5 ]
- The attacks were repelled between 20:00 Moscow time on 19 October and 08:00 Moscow time on 20 October, according to Vedomosti. [ 5 ]
- Named regions include Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kaluga, Kursk, Lipetsk, Oryol, Pskov, Ryazan, Smolensk, Tambov, Tver and Tula, plus the Moscow region. [ 3 , 5 ]
- Since the evening of 19 October, Rosaviatsia restricted operations at the airports of Kaluga (Grabtsevo), Pskov and Moscow's Vnukovo; Vedomosti said the measures had been lifted by the time of publication. [ 5 ]
- The ministry also said Russian forces downed 13 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones between 08:00 and 20:00 Moscow time on 19 October over Belgorod and Kursk regions, Crimea and Perm region. [ 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- How many regions were involved RIA Novosti says 13 regions, Vedomosti says 15; the documents do not reconcile the counts.
- Whether drones were shot down over the Moscow region Interfax and Vedomosti list the Moscow region; the other documents do not mention it.
- Reason for the airport restrictions Vedomosti reports the Rosaviatsia restrictions at Kaluga, Pskov and Vnukovo but does not state their cause.
- Damage or casualties None of the documents mention damage or casualties.
- Independent confirmation of the figure All documents rely on the Russian Defence Ministry's statement.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Start of the period (19 October, Moscow time) in which the ministry says the attacks were repelled. [ 5 ]
- End of the period (20 October, Moscow time) covered by the ministry's overnight report. [ 5 ]
- TASS published the report of 136 drones downed over Russian regions. [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti published the Defence Ministry's figure and list of regions. [ 2 ]
- Interfax reported the 136 drones, including over the Moscow region. [ 3 ]
- Kommersant reported the ministry's overnight tally. [ 4 ]
- Vedomosti reported the figure, the airport restrictions and the earlier daytime tally. [ 5 ]