Russia claims to have destroyed 21 Ukrainian drones

Russian air defense systems destroyed or intercepted 21 Ukraine-launched drones over the Crimean Peninsula and several Russian regions, Russian news agencies reported on Tuesday (January 30), citing Moscow’s defense ministry.

Russia’s systems downed 11 of the drones over Crimea, RIA state news agency reported. Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 in a move condemned by Kyiv’s Western allies as an illegal land grab, Reuters said.

Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Moscow-installed governor of Sevastopol in Crimea, said on the Telegram messaging app there was no damage from the attack on Sevastopol, Crimea’s largest city and a major Black Sea port.

Ukraine-launched drones were also downed over the Belgorod. Bryansk, Kaluga and Tula regions, Russian agencies reported.

Drone debris fell on the roof of a non-residential building on the outskirts of the city of Kaluga, the administrative center of the Kaluga region, but there was no major damage or injuries, the region’s governor Vladislav Shapsha said on Telegram.

Reuters could not independently verify the reports. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine. Kyiv has intensified its air attacks in recent months, in what it says are strikes targeting Russian military infrastructure to undermine Moscow’s war efforts.