Russian air defense units reported additional hits against Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over Crimea, with six more drones brought down in the latest operation. The claim came from the Russian Ministry of Defense, which detailed that the drones were aimed at what it described as a terrorist attack using aircraft-type UAVs. The interception occurred between 23:00 and 23:50 Moscow time on December 15, underscoring a string of recent air-defense engagements in the region. The ministry’s briefing frames the events as part of ongoing efforts to counter what it characterizes as Ukrainian strikes onCrimea and adjacent areas, highlighting the perceived escalation of drone activity in the area. (Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation)
In a separate briefing, the ministry recalled another incident in which Ukrainian forces allegedly sought to execute a terrorist act with aircraft-type drones. These attempts, according to Moscow, were repelled as the drones were destroyed during flight over the Crimean Peninsula. The time window for these claims was provided as the late hours of December 15, illustrating a night when multiple air-defense alerts reportedly occurred in quick succession as Russian systems tracked and neutralized incoming threats. (Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation)
Earlier the same week, officials stated that Russian air defense systems had shot down 26 Ukrainian-managed UAVs over the Crimean Peninsula within a two-hour period. The defense ministry reported that the engagements took place from 20:30 to 22:30 Moscow time, describing it as a concentrated phase of air-patrol activity and counter-drone operations in the region. Such disclosures are typically framed to emphasize Russia’s vigilance and the persistent attempt by Ukrainian forces to strike Crimea from various launch points. (Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation)
On the evening of December 15, Russian air defense systems reportedly intercepted four Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over the Kursk region, another area frequently cited in official summaries of cross-border drone activity. The repeated mentions of drone intercepts in border areas are presented as part of a broader narrative about protecting civilian and strategic assets from cross-border UAV threats. (Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation)
On the same day, Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near the city of Alekseyevka in the Kherson region were described as being intercepted, with assertions that a vehicle carrying Russian medical personnel and relief staff en route to assist affected civilians was diverted or halted amid the air-defense action. The descriptions emphasize the ongoing contest between Ukrainian drone operations and Russian defensive measures in southern regions adjacent to contested zones. (Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation)
There is a note of broader developments in drone-defence technology, with Russia reportedly advancing systems for identifying and capturing drones. Officials described progress in counter-drone capabilities as part of an ongoing modernization effort to better detect, track, and neutralize unmanned threats across multiple theaters. These claims tie into a wider strategic emphasis on strengthening border and frontline air-defense resilience amid evolving UAV tactics. (Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation)