In one of the largest nights of aerial combat since the war began, Russia’s Defence Ministry said on Monday, October 6, 2025, that its forces shot down 251 Ukrainian drones during a large-scale overnight assault.
According to Moscow, the fixed-wing unmanned aircraft were intercepted across multiple regions. Forty were destroyed over Crimea, the peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014, and 62 over the Black Sea. Dozens more were taken down over the border areas of Kursk and Belgorod, both of which have faced repeated strikes in recent months.
Russian officials described the operation as part of an intensifying battle in the skies, with Kyiv increasingly pushing the war deep into Russian territory. In recent weeks, Ukrainian forces have stepped up attacks on oil refineries and energy infrastructure inside Russia, a retaliation for Moscow’s near-daily missile and drone strikes against Ukraine’s cities and power grid.
The overnight barrage highlights how drone warfare has reshaped the battlefield, enabling both sides to hit targets far beyond traditional frontlines. It also underlines Ukraine’s resolve to respond with force as the conflict, now entering its fourth year, shows no sign of abating.
No casualties or significant damage were reported by Russian authorities. However, the scale of the attack has drawn global attention as winter nears and both nations brace for another season of intensified fighting.
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