[Discussion] Russia Says It Intercepted Over 800 Ukrainian Drones; Six Killed

Russia reports more than 800 drones intercepted

Russia said its forces shot down or neutralized more than 800 Ukrainian drones overnight Sunday in what appeared to be one of Kyiv’s largest aerial attacks of the conflict. Russian authorities reported at least six deaths.

The Russian Defense Ministry said drones were intercepted across 17 regions, primarily in western and southern Russia. State-run news agency TASS described the operation as the largest Ukrainian drone attack since the beginning of the year.

Moscow region Governor Andrey Vorobiev said air defenses and electronic warfare units stopped 187 drones. An 83-year-old man was killed elsewhere in the region, while Rostov regional authorities reported five deaths.

Warehouses and industrial sites targeted

Geolocated footage showed a large fire at a 250,000-square-meter Wildberries warehouse in the Moscow region. Vorobiev said no one was injured there.

Ukraine says Wildberries, a major Russian online retailer, handles supplies for the Russian military. The Ukrainian military claimed it has struck seven of the company’s 10 largest logistics centers. Wildberries recently announced plans to build new warehouse capacity in neighboring Kazakhstan.

Ukraine’s military also said the Rostov attack struck a defense industry facility that produces solid rocket propellant for Russian weapons. The extent of damage was not independently detailed.

Russian strikes hit Ukrainian cities

Russia continued its own aerial attacks, targeting Kyiv with missiles and drones early Sunday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said six people were wounded and that a book market was among the locations hit.

Ballistic missiles also struck Kremenchuk and Kryvyi Rih in central Ukraine, according to Zelensky. He reported two deaths in Kryvyi Rih and one in the northern city of Sumy. Steel producer ArcelorMittal said one employee was killed and 13 were injured at its Kryvyi Rih factory, with rescue and search operations continuing.

Ukraine’s Air Force said it did not intercept any of the ballistic missiles launched overnight. Zelensky said Russia had fired more than 1,550 attack drones, nearly 1,560 guided aerial bombs and 62 missiles at Ukraine during the preceding week.

British drones reportedly used in deep strikes

Ukraine has used British-made drones for strikes deep inside Russia during the past six months, the Times reported on Aug. 15, citing Ukrainian military sources.

The weapons reportedly include BAE Systems’ jet-powered Nyan drone, previously tested by the British Royal Navy, and another British drone whose manufacturer was withheld for security reasons. Most Ukrainian deep-strike missions still use domestically produced systems.

According to the report, British drones have hit oil refineries near Moscow and in Yaroslavl and Volgograd, while the Nyan has also been used against Belgorod. Unnamed sources told the Times that Russia could respond by expanding cyberattacks, espionage and other hybrid activity against the United Kingdom.

Ukraine claims strikes in occupied territories

The Ukrainian Navy said it struck a Russian Bastion coastal defense missile system in occupied Crimea overnight on Aug. 16, hitting its launch positions and deployment site. Kyiv reported losses of Russian personnel and equipment but said the full damage was still being assessed.

Russia uses Bastion systems to launch Onyx supersonic and Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles. Ukraine’s General Staff also reported strikes on a railway bridge near Svitlodolynske in partially occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast and on logistics facilities and ammunition depots in occupied Karlivka, Donetsk Oblast.

Drone intercepted over Romania

Romania’s Defense Ministry said an unidentified drone entering from Moldova was shot down Sunday by a Spanish F-18 operating on a NATO air-policing mission. Debris appeared to fall in an uninhabited area between two villages.

The ministry said it was the fourth drone downed over Romania this year. Romanian F-16 pilots shot down three Russian drones in July after repeated airspace incursions during the war.

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