Russia says downed 55 Ukrainian drones overnight

Russia said Tuesday that it had downed 55 Ukrainian drones overnight, adding that falling debris had sparked a new fire at an oil depot in a border region.

“During the course of the past night, air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 55 Ukrainian drones” in six Russian regions, the defence ministry said in a statement.

Six drones were downed over the western region of Voronezh flanking Ukraine, it said.

Voronezh governor Alexander Gusev said falling debris sparked a “new fire” at a fuel depot, where remnants of another downed drone triggered a blaze six days ago.

He said nobody was injured, adding: “Firefighters and emergency services are trying to douse the flames” so that they do not threatent the local population.

Both Russia and Ukraine have ramped up hostilities in recent months, trying to secure the upper hand in the almost three-year conflict ahead of Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

During his re-election campaign Trump pledged to cut off crucial military aid to Kyiv and quickly seek a deal to end the fighting. (BSS/AFP)