Moscow, 21 August 2024 (dpa/MIA) — Russian air defences shot down 45 drones launched by Ukraine overnight, with 11 of them destroyed over the Moscow region, the Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.

Several of the unmanned Ukrainian aircraft came down just a few dozen kilometres south of the capital's city limits, according to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, who described it as one of the largest attempts by Kiev so far to attack the city.

The ministry said 23 drones were shot down in the Bryansk region bordering Ukraine.

There was initially no independent information nor details from the Ukrainian armed forces.

Meanwhile, a missile was shot down in the southern Russian region of Rostov. According to initial findings, there were no casualties nor destruction in any of the cases.

Russia, which has been waging an all-out war against Ukraine for over two years, has repeatedly bombarded the neighbouring country with drone and missile strikes.

Ukraine launched a counteroffensive about two weeks ago, advancing into the western Russian region of Kursk.

It is the first time that Kiev has shifted the war onto Russian soil. Russia continues to occupy large parts of eastern and southern Ukraine.

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Tuesday that Ukraine now controls 1,263 square kilometres and 93 settlements in the Kursk region.