Russia Claims Downing of 30 Ukrainian Drones Amid Border Tensions
Russia’s defence ministry announces interception and destruction of 30 Ukrainian drones along the border, leading to casualties and damage. Amid escalating military actions, social media claims suggest US involvement in a separate incident, stirring accusations and tensions.
Russia Claims Downing of 30 Ukrainian Drones Amid Border Tensions
Date: June 25, 2024
Locations: Belgorod and Voronezh regions, Russia
Russia’s defense ministry announced on Tuesday that its forces had intercepted and downed 30 Ukrainian drones overnight in border areas. The anti-air defense systems successfully eliminated 29 drones in the Belgorod region and one in Voronezh.
Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported via Telegram that an elderly woman was killed and several others were injured due to Ukrainian air raids. Specific incidents include injuries from shrapnel wounds in the Yakovlevsky district and additional casualties in a village and the city of Belgorod. Numerous buildings and cars were also reported damaged.
This event occurs against a backdrop of intensified military actions between Russia and Ukraine, following Russia’s February 2022 military operation in Ukraine.
Additionally, social media claims surfaced alleging that Russian forces shot down a US RQ-4B Global Hawk UAV over the Black Sea following a Ukrainian missile strike on Crimea, which killed four people. These claims, distributed by Russian military bloggers, were not substantiated by concrete evidence or acknowledged by the US Department of Defense.
The alleged involvement of US-provided ATACMS missiles in the Ukrainian attack prompted a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry holding Washington responsible for aiding such operations. The Pentagon has not commented on these allegations.
The situation remains fluid with each side trading accusations amidst ongoing conflict dynamics.