Russia’s Defence Ministry on Thursday claimed that its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 250 Ukrainian drones over the past 24 hours, including 12 unmanned aerial vehicles targeting the Moscow region overnight, marking one of the largest reported drone interception operations since the start of the conflict.

According to the ministry, Russian air defenses also shot down one guided aerial bomb and a Ukrainian Su-27 fighter aircraft during the same period. The statement said the operations were carried out across multiple regions as part of what Moscow described as efforts to repel intensified Ukrainian aerial attacks.

The Defence Ministry further claimed that Russian forces carried out retaliatory strikes on Ukrainian military infrastructure, including energy facilities, ammunition depots, drone assembly workshops, and 154 temporary deployment sites used by Ukrainian armed forces and foreign mercenaries.

In a separate briefing on Wednesday, the ministry released video footage and a detailed flight map allegedly showing the remains of drones used in an attempted attack on the official residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The incident reportedly occurred overnight between Sunday and Monday.

The released footage showed fragments of intercepted drones scattered across snow-covered terrain. According to the visuals, the wreckage included black UAV components, wooden structural elements, and red electrical wiring recovered from interception sites. Russian authorities said the drones were neutralized before reaching their intended targets.

The flight map published by the Defence Ministry traced the alleged routes of the drones, indicating that they were launched from Ukraine’s Sumy and Chernihiv regions. The map showed that some drones followed a direct eastward trajectory toward central Russia, while others took longer routes, flying near the Russia-Belarus border through the Bryansk and Smolensk regions.

According to the ministry, several UAVs also flew close to the border between Russia’s Tver and Pskov regions before being intercepted. Interception points marked on the map showed drones being downed over the Bryansk, Smolensk, and Novgorod regions.

The Russian Defence Ministry said the attempted attack caused no casualties and no damage to Russian territory, including the presidential residence. It emphasized that the air defense systems functioned as intended and prevented any breach of critical infrastructure or leadership facilities.

Ukraine has not immediately commented on the claims, and the reported figures could not be independently verified. However, the incident underscores the growing role of drone warfare in the nearly four-year-long conflict, with both sides increasingly relying on UAVs for surveillance and long-range strikes.

Drone attacks on Moscow and surrounding regions have intensified over the past year, prompting Russia to expand its layered air defense network around major cities and strategic sites. Kyiv has previously said such operations aim to disrupt Russia’s military logistics and signal that the war is not confined to frontline regions.

As the conflict enters another year with no comprehensive peace agreement in sight, aerial strikes and countermeasures are expected to remain a central feature of hostilities, raising concerns about escalation and regional security.