Russia’s Defense Ministry said 629 aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles were neutralized overnight on Sept. 18 over various parts of the country and in the airspace over the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea.
The ministry said the drones were neutralized over the Astrakhan, Belgorod, Bryansk, Vladimir, Kaluga, Kursk, Oryol, Rostov, Ryazan, Smolensk and Tula regions, as well as Krasnodar Krai, the Moscow region, the Republic of Adygea and Crimea.
Drones heading toward Moscow
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said more than 350 drones flew toward the Moscow region between 8 p.m. on Sept. 17 and 7 a.m. on Sept. 18.
Sobyanin said most of the drones were neutralized in the city’s outer areas, while 64 drones approaching Moscow were downed.
Damage in the Rostov region
Rostov Region Governor Yuri Slyusar said an aerial attack targeting the region was repelled in the cities of Bataysk, Taganrog and Rostov, as well as five districts, and that more than 50 drones were neutralized.
Slyusar said there were no deaths or injuries, but the windows of numerous private homes, vehicles and natural gas pipes leading to homes were damaged. Electricity cables were severed at two locations.
Ports and logistics centers in Ukraine
Russia’s Defense Ministry said drone attacks were carried out overnight against ports and vessels in Ukraine, as well as logistics centers it claimed were used for the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
According to the ministry, a dry cargo vessel in the port of Chornomorsk in the Odesa region was hit. The ministry claimed the vessel was carrying military cargo. It also said the Nova Poshta logistics center, approximately 6 kilometers northwest of Odesa, was targeted. The ministry alleged that the center was used to store and distribute military shipments sent to Ukraine from European countries.
