In the night of March 9, air defense units reported the downing of 47 unmanned aerial vehicles belonging to the Ukrainian Armed Forces over several Russian regions. The claim was issued by the Russian Ministry of Defense and outlines a coordinated interception effort conducted to prevent what officials described as a terrorist attack using aircraft-type drones.
According to the official statement, the losses on the ground included one drone captured and destroyed in the Belgorod region, two in the Kursk region, three in the Volgograd region, and 41 in the Rostov region. These figures reflect a concentrated defense response across multiple border-adjacent and southern districts, underscoring the operational focus on disrupting drone-based incursions.
Earlier, the Rostov region governor Vasily Golubev reported that an employee from the Ministry of Emergencies, who was involved in rescue and consequence-management operations in the field, required hospitalization following the incident in Taganrog. The situation in Taganrog prompted authorities and residents to monitor ongoing activity and assess the impact on local infrastructure and public safety.
Throughout the Rostov region, residents reported hearing loud explosions and a series of bursts consistent with air defense activity. Local observers described sounds resembling artillery or air defenses in the city area, with assessments indicating roughly 15 to 20 such blasts during the episode.
Additionally, it was noted that Russia has recently developed and implemented a new drone suppression system intended to enhance readiness against small, guided aerial threats. This development fits into broader defensive efforts described by officials as part of a continuous modernization of security and response capabilities in response to evolving aerial threat landscapes.