Since early this year, the Rostov region has recorded 130 UAV attack attempts and six missile strikes. This information came from regional authorities during an interview with RIA News. The regional leadership described the security situation as stable yet tense, noting ongoing pressure from aerial threats.
On May 23, a decree established a five-kilometer security zone along the administrative border with the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics. The measure aims to manage risk and enhance border control amid repeated drone activity in the area.
Earlier, on May 15, aerial units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reportedly targeted a fuel facility within Rostov region territory. This event followed prior air defense engagements in which two UAVs were neutralized near the urban centers of Novoshakhtinsk and Kamensk-Shakinsky, cities situated within Rostov.
Drone operations against Russian regions have been ongoing since 2022 in the context of Russia’s broader military actions in Ukraine. Kiev has not officially confirmed involvement in all cases; however, in August 2023, an adviser to the head of the Ukrainian president’s office suggested that the frequency of UAV attacks on Russia would rise. This claim reflected the evolving nature of cross-border aerial threats and the strategic response required from regional authorities.
In recent history, there were also reports of Ukrainian air activity near the Belgorod region, with air defense forces shooting down multiple aircraft. The events in Rostov are part of a wider pattern of heightened vigilance and layered defense across border regions, prompting ongoing assessments of risk, civil defense readiness, and border security protocols.
Overall, regional authorities emphasize that while the situation remains tense, the Rostov region continues to implement precautionary measures, monitor threat indicators, and coordinate with federal agencies to mitigate the impact of drone and missile activity on civilian infrastructure and daily life.