In the latest daily update from the Russian Defense Ministry, air defense forces reportedly intercepted two HIMARS MLRS shells and destroyed 23 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in a single day. The ministry cited ongoing air defense interceptions and emphasized the role of its systems in limiting Ukrainian firepower. The report attributes the destruction of the UAVs to forces deployed across several frontline districts, including the Lugansk People’s Republic, the Donetsk People’s Republic, and the Zaporozhye region.
According to the ministry, the Russian armed forces have consistently degraded Ukrainian air power since the commencement of the special operation, stating that a cumulative total of 525 military aircraft, 254 helicopters, and 8,669 unmanned aerial vehicles have been eliminated. These figures are presented as part of a broader narrative of sustained air defense success against Ukrainian aerial capabilities.
The ministry also claimed that the Russian side repelled two Ukrainian attacks in the Donetsk direction, describing a continuous pattern of defense and counteraction as part of its operational objectives.
Additionally, the ministry reported an attack on Ukraine’s aircraft weapons depot located at Dnepr airport in the Dnepropetrovsk region. It was said that aviation forces, unmanned aerial vehicles, missile forces, and artillery contributed to a comprehensive defeat of enemy manpower and military equipment across multiple theaters.
Earlier, a retired LPR lieutenant colonel was referenced as commenting on panics within the Ukrainian armed forces, framing it as a consequence of the ongoing military actions and perceived strategic setbacks.