Russia says air defences downed 113 Ukrainian drones on 8 October, 62 the next day
In short
Russia's Defence Ministry said air defence forces intercepted and destroyed 113 Ukrainian drones between 08:00 and 20:00 Moscow time on 8 October over the Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Omsk, Oryol, Sverdlovsk, Tyumen and Vladimir regions, the Moscow region, Bashkortostan, Crimea and the Black Sea. Kommersant reported, citing regional officials, that one person was killed and six injured in attacks on the Belgorod region that day and that a drone strike on Podolsk left a woman injured. The following day, 9 October, the ministry reported 62 Ukrainian drones downed over the same 12-hour period.
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Russian air defence forces intercepted and destroyed 113 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles between 08:00 and 20:00 Moscow time on 8 October, the Defence Ministry said in a statement carried by RIA Novosti. The drones were downed over the Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Omsk, Oryol, Sverdlovsk, Tyumen and Vladimir regions, the Moscow region, the Republic of Bashkortostan, the Republic of Crimea and the waters of the Black Sea, the statement said. Interfax, which described the drones as aircraft-type, said the day was a Thursday. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Kommersant reported that a drone strike on Podolsk injured a woman, citing Moscow region governor Andrei Vorobyov; the paper's text also refers to a man in the same strike, but the wording describing what happened to him is missing from the available text. In the Belgorod region one person was killed and six injured in attacks during the day, Kommersant said, citing data from the regional operational headquarters. [ 5 ]
On 9 October the Defence Ministry reported a further 62 Ukrainian drones intercepted between 08:00 and 20:00 Moscow time, according to TASS, RIA Novosti, Interfax and RBC. RBC said the drones were aircraft-type and that the day was a Friday. The reports available for 9 October do not list the regions involved. [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
Why it matters
The figures come from the Defence Ministry's daily tallies and were carried by state agencies and business outlets alike, showing drone activity reported across a wide span of Russian regions, from Belgorod and Crimea to Omsk and Tyumen. Kommersant's report of a death and injuries in the Belgorod region and casualties in Podolsk indicates the attacks reached civilians.
Key facts
- The Defence Ministry said 113 Ukrainian drones were intercepted and destroyed between 08:00 and 20:00 Moscow time on 8 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The drones were downed over the Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Omsk, Oryol, Sverdlovsk, Tyumen and Vladimir regions, the Moscow region, Bashkortostan, Crimea and the Black Sea. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- Interfax described the drones as aircraft-type. [ 3 ]
- In the Belgorod region one person was killed and six injured in attacks during the day, according to regional operational headquarters data cited by Kommersant. [ 5 ]
- A drone strike on Podolsk injured a woman, Moscow region governor Andrei Vorobyov reported, according to Kommersant. [ 5 ]
- On 9 October the Defence Ministry said 62 Ukrainian drones were downed between 08:00 and 20:00 Moscow time. [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Air defence forces intercepted and destroyed 113 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions between 08:00 and 20:00 Moscow time on 8 October, the Defence Ministry said. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The drones on 8 October were downed over the Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Omsk, Oryol, Sverdlovsk, Tyumen and Vladimir regions, the Moscow region, Bashkortostan, Crimea and the Black Sea. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- On 9 October the Defence Ministry reported 62 Ukrainian drones downed between 08:00 and 20:00 Moscow time. [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
Still unclear
- The fate of a man in the Podolsk drone strike. Kommersant's text mentions a man alongside the injured woman, but the wording describing what happened to him is missing from the available article text.
- Casualties and damage beyond Belgorod and Podolsk. Only Kommersant reports casualties; the Defence Ministry statements carried by the other outlets give only drone counts and regions.
- Regions involved on 9 October. The 9 October reports available give only the total of 62 drones and the time window, not the regions.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Start of the 12-hour window on 8 October in which the Defence Ministry said 113 drones were downed. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- End of the reporting window on 8 October. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- TASS reports 113 Ukrainian drones downed over Russian regions. [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti publishes the Defence Ministry statement listing the regions. [ 2 ]
- Kommersant reports casualties in the Belgorod region and Podolsk alongside the drone tally. [ 5 ]
- On 9 October, TASS and RIA Novosti report 62 Ukrainian drones downed during the day. [ 6 , 7 ]