Russia says it intercepted 660 Ukrainian drones overnight in what it described as one of the largest long-range aerial attacks since the start of the war, as Ukraine continues to intensify strikes targeting Russian territory and critical infrastructure.
According to Russia’s Ministry of Defence, drones were shot down across 13 regions, including Moscow, the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula, and areas over the Black and Azov seas.
Regional officials said one of the heaviest attacks targeted the Tula region, about 180 kilometres south of Moscow. Governor Dmitry Milyaev said a residential building was damaged and one woman was injured. He also reported damage to an industrial facility in the city of Novomoskovsk.
Russian media identified the facility as the Azot chemical plant, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously described as a key site supporting Russia’s explosives production.
Ukraine has increasingly relied on long-range drone strikes to target Russian energy and industrial infrastructure, aiming to disrupt fuel supplies and logistics that support Moscow’s military campaign. The sustained attacks have reportedly contributed to fuel shortages and strained Russia’s air defence systems.
In occupied Crimea, Russian-installed authorities declared a state of emergency as repeated drone strikes disrupted fuel supplies and caused power outages. Moscow-appointed governor Sergey Aksyonov acknowledged that no air defence system can provide complete protection against such attacks.
The escalating drone campaign has also renewed concerns over Belarus’ potential role in the conflict.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian intelligence indicates Belarus is expanding military infrastructure and storage facilities near the Ukrainian border under what he described as Russian influence, raising fears of a possible widening of the conflict.
However, the Kremlin rejected reports that it is seeking Belarusian military assistance. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed claims that Moscow is pressuring Belarus to become more directly involved in the war, calling such reports inaccurate.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko also denied any plans to send Belarusian troops into Ukraine. Speaking on Thursday, Lukashenko said Belarus wants to avoid direct involvement in the conflict and instead hopes to reach an agreement with Kyiv.
Belarus previously allowed Russian forces to use its territory as a staging ground for the 2022 invasion of Ukraine and continues to host Russian tactical nuclear weapons while conducting regular joint military exercises with Moscow.
The latest developments highlight the growing aerial dimension of the conflict, with Ukraine expanding its long-range strike campaign while Russia seeks to defend critical infrastructure and maintain pressure along the front lines.
