Ukraine Says It Shot Down 33,000 Russian Drones In March, A Monthly Record

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine used interceptors to shoot down more than 33,000 Russian drones in March; This is a record monthly figure since Moscow launched the drone. all-out invasion Ukraine’s defense minister claimed this more than four years ago.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s domestically developed long range attack drones An attack on a Russian oil refinery and terminal on the Black Sea, the third in less than two weeks, has led to local residents being evacuated and Russia warned of possible “environmental consequences”.

Ukraine has developed cutting-edge and battle-tested technology drone technology This proved necessary to hold back Russia’s larger army and attracted military attention from around the world.

Interceptor drones now sought after as part of a comprehensive air defense system Middle East and Gulf countries According to Ukrainian officials, Iran is in the middle of the war.

Ukraine is increasing its supply of interceptor drones to thwart Russian airstrikes and its military is establishing a new command within the air force to boost the country’s capabilities, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said in a Telegram post late Monday.

Ukraine’s offensive capabilities have also improved; The country’s forces have more than doubled the range of their deep strike capabilities since Russia’s February 2022 invasion, the Ministry of Defense said Tuesday.

It was stated at the time that Ukrainian forces were able to hit military targets approximately 630 kilometers (400 miles) away. They are now hitting targets about 1,750 kilometers (1,100 miles) behind enemy lines, the ministry said in a statement.

This development is Ukraine’s Hit Russian oil facilities It provides crucial revenue for Moscow’s war effort. It also targeted production facilities supplying Russia’s armed forces.

Ukraine struck a Russian oil refinery in 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, Unmanned System Forces said Tuesday.

Two attacks earlier this month destroyed 24 oil storage tanks and damaged another four. It was not possible to independently verify the claims.

Video released from Tuapse by Krasnodar region Governor Veniamin Kondratyev on Tuesday showed a large cloud of black smoke rising from the refinery and black, steaming puddles on the adjacent street. An emergency official notified the governor that boiling petroleum products were spilling from one of the oil tanks onto the street, damaging several vehicles.

Kondratyev said people living near the Tuapse refinery were evacuated. He did not provide details on how many people were evacuated or for how long.

Speaking about the attacks on Tuapse, Russian President Vladimir Putin said they “could cause serious environmental consequences,” Russian news agency Interfax reported.

Putin also said Kondratyev reported that there was no serious threat in Tuapse and that people were “dealing with the difficulties they face on the field.”

Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that its air defenses intercepted 186 Ukrainian drones overnight over Russian territories, annexed Crimea, and the Black and Azov seas.

Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said that 3 people died and 3 people were injured in a drone attack in the Belgorod region on the Ukrainian border.

Ukrainian officials said that three civilians were killed and five were injured in Russia’s drone attacks on Ukraine.

Two people were killed in the city of Chuhuiv in the northeastern Kharkiv region, according to the head of the regional military administration, Oleh Syniehubov.

A 40-year-old man was killed and five others were injured in Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Two people were injured in a rare daytime drone attack on Kiev on Tuesday, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

Another Russian attack on Konotop, in the Sumy region of northern Ukraine, disabled the city’s electricity and water supplies.

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