In the early hours of December 17, air defense systems intercepted and destroyed two Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over the Volgograd region, according to the press service of the Russian Ministry of Defense. The agency stated that a terrorist act targeting objects within the Russian Federation was attempted by aircraft-type drones, and that the mission air defense systems neutralized the two Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles on Volgograd region soil.
The regional governor, Andrey Bocharov, confirmed that there were no injuries or damage resulting from the incident. He described the event as a protection of critical infrastructure and civilian safety, underscoring the effectiveness of the air defense measures taken that morning.
Earlier, Russian air defense forces reported intercepting a substantial drone attack aimed at the Rostov region, including the Morozovsk and Kamensk districts. The onslaught appeared to involve multiple aircraft-type drones, all of which were repelled by defense systems in place along the border and within the region.
On the preceding day, the Ministry of Defense announced that Russian forces had shot down 49 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in a single day. The same report noted that Ukrainian troops had attempted a large-scale drone strike targeting sites in Crimea, which were subsequently neutralized by air defense assets and allied forces operating in the region.