Kyiv, Ukraine — Ukraine used interceptor systems to shoot down more than 33,000 Russian drones of various types in March, a record monthly figure since Moscow launched them. all-out attack More than four years ago, Ukraine’s Defense Minister made the claim.
Meanwhile, Ukraine grew domestically long range attack drones A Russian oil refinery and terminal on the Black Sea has been attacked for the third time in less than two weeks, prompting the evacuation of locals as a precaution.
Ukraine has developed state-of-the-art and battle-tested drone technology It has proven essential in stopping Russia’s larger forces and has drawn military interest from around the world.
Interceptor drones are now being sought as part of comprehensive air defense systems Middle East and Gulf countries According to Ukrainian officials, in the midst of war with Iran.
Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said in a post on Telegram late Monday that Ukraine was increasing supplies of interceptor drones to thwart Russian air strikes and that its military had launched a new command within the air force to bolster the country’s capabilities.
Ukraine’s offensive capabilities have also improved, the Defense Ministry said on Tuesday, adding that the country’s forces have more than doubled the extent of their deep-strike capabilities since Russia’s February 2022 invasion.
At the time, Ukrainian forces were able to hit military targets about 630 kilometers (400 miles) away, it said. They are now attacking targets about 1,750 kilometers (1,100 miles) behind enemy lines, the ministry said in a statement.
That reform has allowed Ukraine Russian oil installations attacked which provided vital revenue for Moscow’s war efforts. It has also targeted manufacturing plants supplying Russia’s armed forces.
Ukraine struck a Russian oil refinery off the Black Sea port of Tuapse for the third time this month in a coordinated operation involving multiple branches of the country’s defense and security services, Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces said on Tuesday.
It said 24 oil storage tanks were destroyed and four others were damaged in the two attacks earlier this month.
Independent verification of the claims was not possible.
Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said people living near the Tuapse refinery were being evacuated on Tuesday. He did not provide any details on how many people were being evacuated or for how long.
The Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday its air defenses intercepted 186 Ukrainian drones over Russian territories, Crimea and the Black and Azov seas overnight.
Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said three people were killed and three others injured in a drone strike in the Belgorod region on the border with Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials said Russian drone strikes on Ukraine killed three civilians and injured five others.
Two people were killed in the town of Chuhuiv in the northeastern Kharkiv region, according to Oleh Sinihubov, head of the regional military administration.
A 40-year-old man was killed and five others were injured in Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Another Russian attack on Konotop in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region knocked out the town’s electricity and water supplies.
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