Moscow, March 16: Russia’s air defense systems reportedly shot down 170 Ukrainian drones during a large-scale overnight attack, with 27 of these drones heading directly towards Moscow. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, air defenses successfully intercepted and destroyed these drones from Saturday night to Sunday morning across various regions.
Moscow’s Mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, shared on social media that the 27 drones approaching Moscow were neutralized by Russia’s air defense systems.
The Russian Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsia, announced temporary restrictions on arrivals and departures at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport and Kaluga Airport. These measures were deemed necessary to ensure flight safety.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated that Russian forces targeted energy and transportation infrastructure used by Ukrainian troops, as well as sites involved in the training and launch of long-range drones. They also attacked temporary deployment sites of Ukrainian armed forces and foreign mercenaries.
According to Xinhua News Agency, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that Russia launched approximately 430 drones and several ballistic missiles towards Ukraine on Saturday. He urged for expedited agreements on missile supplies and the production of air defense missiles.
In a post on social media platform X, he stated, “The Russians launched nearly 430 drones of various types and a significant number of missiles. Only 13 of these were ballistic missiles, and the total number of missiles in this attack was 68. Initial data indicates that our air defense systems intercepted 58 of these missiles.”
He further emphasized that such attacks highlight the importance of air defense, stating, “Every night of Russian attacks reminds all our partners that air defense and missiles are indeed a daily necessity. Each agreement on missile supplies cannot wait. Everything must be implemented as soon as possible. Our agreements to increase the production of air defense missiles are a crucial direction, and we must focus 100% on this.”
Zelensky warned that Russia would attempt to exploit the conflict in the Middle East to cause further destruction in Europe and Ukraine. He stressed the need for complete awareness of the actual threat level and preparation accordingly. He called for the development of air defense missile production in Europe, particularly for missiles capable of countering ballistic threats, as well as for all other systems essential for safety, regardless of events occurring elsewhere in the world. Europe is capable of ensuring this level of reliable security, and he expressed gratitude to all those providing assistance.
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Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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