Ukraine says it struck drone depot in Russia's Oryol region

(Reuters) - Ukraine said on Saturday it had struck a storage and maintenance depot for long-range Shahed drones in Russia's Oryol region, adding that this had "significantly reduced" Russia's ability to launch mass drone attacks on Ukraine.

Ukraine military's general staff said in a statement on Telegram the attack took place on Thursday and was conducted by Ukraine's air force.

"As a result of the strike, a depot for storage, maintenance and repair of Shahed kamikaze drones, made of several protected concrete structures, was destroyed," it said.

"This military operation has significantly reduced the enemy's potential in terms of conducting air raids of strike drones on Ukraine's civilian infrastructure."

Moscow has not made any comment on the attack.

Russia has regularly launched missile and drone attacks on Ukraine throughout its 34-month invasion.

For the past several months, Moscow has launched near-daily barrages of dozens of drones at Ukraine, hoping to damage its infrastructure and wear down air defences leaving them less able to shoot down missiles.

Ukraine's air force said earlier on Saturday it had downed 15 out of 16 drones launched by Russia overnight, with the other one disappearing from radars.

(Reporting by Max Hunder. Editing by Jane Merriman)