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Russia claims 5 Ukrainian drones downed over Belgorod, Tula oblasts

1 min read
The entrance to the Russian city of Belgorod, some 40 kilometers from border with Ukraine, on May 28, 2023.
The entrance to the Russian city of Belgorod, some 40 kilometers from the border with Ukraine, on May 28, 2023. (Olga Maltseva / AFP via Getty Images)

Russia's Defense Ministry claimed on April 4 that its forces downed three Ukrainian drones over Belgorod Oblast and two more over Tula Oblast.

The ministry and regional authorities did not provide any information on the consequences of the alleged strikes at the moment of the publication.

Russian authorities regularly report on purported drone strikes launched from Ukrainian territory. The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims.

Ukraine has recently launched a series of drone strikes targeting Russian oil refineries in an effort to disrupt production. On April 2, Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) attacked a drone production facility and a refinery in the cities of Yelabuga and Nizhnekamsk in Russia's Tatarstan, some 1,300 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

The same day as Moscow reported drone attacks against Tula and Belgorod oblasts, Russian forces attacked the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv with drones, killing four people and injuring 12, local authorities said.

How Ukraine hit a Russian drone factory 1,300 kilometers away
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Martin Fornusek

Reporter

Martin Fornusek is a reporter for the Kyiv Independent, specializing in international and regional politics, history, and disinformation. Based in Lviv, Martin often reports on international politics, with a focus on analyzing developments related to Ukraine and Russia. His career in journalism began in 2021 after graduating from Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, earning a Master's degree in Conflict and Democracy Studies. Martin has been invited to speak on Times Radio, France 24, Czech Television, and Radio Free Europe. He speaks English, Czech, and Ukrainian.

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