Moscow: The Russian Ministry of Defense announced Sunday that its air defense systems successfully shot down 86 Ukrainian drones overnight across various regions.

According to Qatar News Agency, the ministry revealed that 29 drones were intercepted over Belgorod, 14 over Saratov, and 11 each over Voronezh and Smolensk. Additionally, nine were brought down over Bryansk, seven over Kursk, three over Kaluga, and one each over Crimea and Moscow.

This development marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict as the United States continues to pursue diplomatic solutions. Despite recent peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, there have been no substantial advancements towards ending the conflict that commenced in February 2022.