Ukraine launches major drone attack; Russia says 376 UAVs intercepted

Moscow: Russia said its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 376 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 144 over the Leningrad region, in one of the largest drone attacks reported in recent months.

Leningrad Governor Alexander Drozdenko said the attack caused limited damage, though falling drone debris damaged several buildings. A fire broke out at a Defence Ministry facility in the Lomonosovsky district, leaving four people injured. One person was hospitalised, while the others received treatment at the scene.

Authorities evacuated more than 600 residents as a precaution. The fire was later brought under control and no major infrastructure damage was reported.

Earlier, three people sustained minor injuries in a separate drone incident in Saint Petersburg and were discharged after receiving medical treatment.

According to the Russian Defence Ministry, air defence units intercepted drones across multiple regions during the overnight assault.

Meanwhile, officials reported that a drone strike triggered a fire at an oil depot in Ust-Labinsk in the Krasnodar region. Around 60 residents were evacuated, though no casualties were reported.

On social media, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian drones struck military-related targets in the St. Petersburg region, including naval arsenals and facilities in Kronstadt. He also claimed that a long-range strike hit an oil depot in the Krasnodar region.

Zelenskyy said the operations were carried out jointly by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine and military intelligence units, adding that Kyiv would continue responding to Russian military actions.

The latest exchange of drone strikes highlights the continuing escalation of long-range attacks by both sides amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.