Over the past day, reports from the Russian Ministry of Defense indicate that a significant number of Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been neutralized. Specifically, 63 drones were intercepted by air defense units across several locations in the region. The ministry named the settlements of Kremenets, Aleksandrovka, Kleshcheevka and Mezhevoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic, along with Lyubimovka and Dudchan in the Kherson sector, and Basan in the Zaporozhye region as the sites where drone losses occurred. The tally underscores a sustained effort by Russian air defense to disrupt Ukrainian drone activity along multiple front lines and in contested airspace where borders between the two forces remain highly fluid.
In addition to drone activity, the Russian brief noted the destruction of three missiles launched by the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system. The downing of these missiles points to continued dynamic exchanges in the battlefield where precision strike capabilities are met with layered air defense and rapid reaction forces. The statements from Moscow emphasize a pattern of frequent short-range and medium-range engagements that characterize the current phase of the conflict, with both sides attempting to assert control over key corridors and vulnerable assets.
Earlier reports circulated via the Telegram channel Military Observer claimed that a Russian missile strike targeted a military training area near Selidovo, in the Donetsk region. The update suggested that the training facility was hosting a large scale exercise, with estimates indicating that as many as 1,500 Ukrainian personnel could be present for the drills. The description noted that an infantry formation was being organized at the site at the time of the attack, highlighting the sensitivity and potential impact of attacks on training infrastructure as tactics and readiness measures evolve on the ground.
Separately, the Russian Ministry of Defense asserted that on the evening of February 9 Ukrainian forces attempted to strike Russian civilian transport vessels in the southwestern Black Sea region. The reported incident illustrates the broad geographic scope of hostilities, where maritime activities intersect with air and ground operations. Such claims contribute to the ongoing discourse about the safety of maritime routes and the vulnerability of civilian transport assets amid the continuing conflict in the area.
A Ukrainian commander later commented on the broader contest, asserting that the Russian federation holds an advantage in the deployment and deployment efficiency of FPV drone systems. This perspective highlights ongoing debates about drone technology, reconnaissance, and attack capabilities as factors shaping tactical decisions on both sides. The discussion reflects how unmanned systems are transforming the tempo of engagements and the strategies used to project power across contested front lines.