Moscow, Russia: According to a statement from Moscow’s defense ministry on Friday, Russia reported intercepting over 100 Ukrainian drones during the night across the southern regions of the country, including Crimea and the Black Sea. Specifically, 51 drones were neutralized over Crimea, 44 over the Krasnodar region, six each over the Belgorod region and the Black Sea, and one over the Kursk region.
The intercepted drones mark one of Ukraine’s significant overnight drone offensives, coinciding with Russian military advancements along the front line, resulting in substantial territorial gains, the largest in 18 months. This offensive has further strained Ukraine’s already challenged military resources.
Data analysis from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), as reported by AFP, indicates that Russia has captured 278 square kilometers (107 square miles) of Ukrainian territory from May 9 to 15, marking the most extensive territorial acquisition in a single operation since December 2022.