Russia has reported that it has shot down nearly 64,000 drones since the beginning of the year
The Russian Ministry of Defense claims that during the first six months of 2026, Russian air defense forces allegedly shot down nearly 64,000 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory and the occupied regions of Ukraine. According to Russian data, the majority of attacks occurred in May and June, when the number of drones rose sharply. There is currently no independent confirmation of these figures.
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that since the beginning of 2026, air defense forces have allegedly destroyed 63,933 Ukrainian drones. These figures, based on daily reports from the Russian Ministry of Defense, were published by Russian media outlets. These are drones that, according to the Russian side, were shot down over regions of Russia, as well as over the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
According to the published data, nearly half of all intercepted drones were recorded in just the last two months. In May, Russia reported 14,195 drones shot down, and in June—another 17,832. By comparison, in January and February, according to official Russian statistics, the monthly number of UAVs shot down did not exceed 6,000. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, May 17 was the day with the highest number of shootdowns. On that day, the Russian side reported 1,054 drones shot down in a single day. Also among the top five days with the highest number of attacks, according to Russian estimates, were:
- June 18 — 992 drones;
- June 30 — 927;
- June 6 — 911;
- May 23 — 800.
Earlier, the Russian newspaper *Kommersant* reported that the Belgorod, Kursk, and Bryansk regions, as well as the temporarily occupied Crimea, were most frequently targeted by drone attacks. The list of regions where air defense systems were most frequently active also included the Moscow region, the Rostov region, and the Krasnodar Krai. In addition, according to Russian sources, more than 400 drones were shot down over the Black and Azov Seas. Overall, according to estimates by Russian journalists, Russian air defense forces allegedly shot down an average of about 223 drones per day.
Over the past few months, Ukraine has significantly intensified its strikes on Russian territory. The main targets have been oil refineries, fuel infrastructure facilities, military-industrial complex enterprises, and military facilities. According to Russian sources, 16 oil refineries were targeted in May alone. Russian media claim that this has disrupted the fuel industry and contributed to fuel shortages in several regions of the country.
At the same time, The Wall Street Journal reported that the increased number of drones deployed in a single attack places a significant strain on Russian air defense systems. According to estimates by the analytical firm Jane’s, approximately 35% of Ukrainian strikes hit their targets in June. Following a series of attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly stated the need to force Russia into negotiations to end the war. On June 25, he announced the launch of a “40-day operation of influence” against Russia, carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine. However, the president did not disclose any details of this operation.
It is worth noting that the cited data on the number of downed drones comes from statements by the Russian Ministry of Defense. The Ukrainian side has not confirmed these figures, and it is currently impossible to independently verify them. This is reported by Russian media.
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