The Russian Defense Ministry said more than 100 Ukrainian drones were intercepted over Russia and occupied Crimea on Saturday, just as a Ukrainian drone was reportedly targeted and destroyed in the Kursk region a day earlier.
An ammunition depot and missile arsenal in southwestern Russia caught fire in an attack Saturday in Russia’s Krasnodar region, triggering evacuations after the fire caused a series of explosions.
Videos on social media showed bright orange clouds rising on the horizon, while the dull sounds of gunfire echoed almost continuously.
The Russian Defense Ministry said early Saturday that its forces had shot down 101 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory and occupied Crimea overnight.
No casualties were immediately reported in either Russian region.
Zelensky to present his ‘victory plan’ to the United States
The massive Ukrainian drone attack comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said ahead of his visit to the White House that kyiv’s multi-pronged “victory plan” requires swift U.S. action.
The “victory plan” Zelensky will present to President Joe Biden will include long-range strike capabilities and other weapons long sought by kyiv, and will serve as the basis for any future negotiations with Russia, Zelensky told reporters ahead of next week’s trip.
According to him, the US reluctance to allow Ukraine to use Western weapons to strike deep into Russia is due to fear of escalation by Moscow, a major nuclear power. Ukraine has had to use its own capabilities to carry out strikes inside Russian territory.
“I think that Biden is receiving information from his entourage today that there could be an escalation. But, and this is important, not everyone around him thinks so. And it is already an achievement that not everyone around him thinks so,” Zelensky said.
But the longer Western partners wait to authorize the use of long-range missiles, the more tactically obsolete their value will become, Zelenskyy said.
Russian attacks on Kharkiv and Dnipro continue
Russian forces also attacked the Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv and Dnipro on Friday night.
In Kharkiv, a Su-34 aircraft was used to launch three guided aerial bombs from Belgorod, the head of the Kharkiv regional prosecutor’s office Oleksandr Filchakov reported.
Filchakov said that an enemy bomb crashed on the territory of a private house in the Kholodnogorsky district of the city. In Shevchenkivskyi, a bomb hit the road near the hospital. Meanwhile, in the kyiv district, it hit the land of an enterprise.
Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov said the number of victims was 15. All, except the children, were in moderate condition. Two children and one adult were slightly injured. Eight of the victims were hospitalized.
In Dnipro, a rocket attack destroyed several houses. According to residents, the shock wave damaged the roof of one house and shattered windows. Apartments were also damaged.
Volunteers distribute building materials to owners of damaged apartments to help them repair broken windows.
ADVERTISEMENTAccording to the regional military administration, three buildings and 72 cars were damaged in the attack. Windows were also broken in a six-story school building.
