Russia downs 20 Ukrainian drones near Crimea

By : AFP

Date: 12 August 2023 9:05am WAT

This photograph taken on June 19, 2023 shows a general view of Simferopol on the Crimean Peninsula. - The Kakhovka dam creates a reservoir which feeds the Soviet-built North Crimean canal which supplies the region and since the dam's destruction on June 6, the water level in the reservoir has fallen steeply, raising concerns among Russian officials that the canal could run dry. (Photo by Olga MALTSEVA / AFP)

Russia said on Saturday it shot down 20 unmanned Ukrainian drones near the Crimean peninsula.

Fourteen drones were destroyed by air defense systems and six more were suppressed by electronic warfare, the defence ministry said on Telegram.

There were no casualties or damage, it said.

In Moscow, officials said Friday they had destroyed a drone aimed at the capital, the latest in a string of attacks on the city in recent days.

A Ukrainian drone was destroyed over the western outskirts of Moscow, the defence ministry said, adding there were no casualties or damage as a result of the incident.

In July, Ukrainian drone strikes on Crimea blew up an ammunition depot and damaged the bridge across the Kerch Strait linking the peninsula to Russia’s mainland.