Moscow: Air defenses destroyed 19 Ukrainian drones over the Belgorod, Kursk, Voronezh, Bryansk and Rostov regions from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Moscow time (1430-1700 GMT), the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
“On January 1 this year, between 17:30 and 20:00 Moscow time, air defense systems on duty destroyed 19 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles: ten UAVs over the territory of the Belgorod Region, three over the Kursk Region, two over the Voronezh Region, two over the Bryansk Region, and two over the Rostov Region,” the ministry said.
It added that from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Moscow time, 14 more Ukrainian drones were destroyed above the Belgorod, Voronezh, Rostov, Tula and Oryol regions, making the total number of destroyed drones 33.
“On January 1 this year, between 20:00 and 22:00 Moscow time, air defense systems on duty destroyed 14 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles: two UAVs over the territory of the Belgorod Region, four over the territory of the Voronezh Region, five over the territory of the Rostov Region, two over the territory of the Tula Region, and one over the territory of the Oryol Region,” the statement said.
Russia has been conducting its special military operation since February 24, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the operation aims to “protect people subjected to genocide by the Kiev regime.” According to the president, the ultimate goal of the operation is to completely liberate Donbas and create conditions that guarantee Russia’s security: Ukraine must undergo demilitarization and denazification.
