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Russia destroyed over 3,000 Ukrainian drones last week, RIA says - Headlines news and analysis from Global Banking & Finance Review
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Russia destroyed over 3,000 Ukrainian drones last week, RIA says

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on May 17, 2026

1 min read

· Last updated: May 17, 2026

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Russia Claims Interception and Destruction of 3,124 Ukrainian Drones This Week

Summary of Drone Interceptions and Impact

Reported Drone Interceptions

May 18 (Reuters) - Russia has intercepted and destroyed at least 3,124 Ukrainian drones over the past week, the RIA state news agency said, citing data from the Defence Ministry.

Peak Days for Drone Destruction

RIA, after compiling the data, said the most drones were downed on May 13 and May 17 with 572 and 1,054 units destroyed, respectively, mostly over European Russia.

Casualties and Local Impact

At least four people were killed, including three in the Moscow region, after Ukraine launched its biggest overnight drone attack on the Russian capital in more than a year, local officials said on Sunday.

Reporting Credits

(Reporting by Jekaterīna Golubkova in Tokyo; Editing by Tom Hogue)

Key Takeaways

  • Russia claims to have intercepted 3,124 Ukrainian drones over the week, with the highest daily tallies—572 and 1,054 drones—on May 13 and May 17 respectively (apnews.com).
  • Ukraine executed its biggest overnight drone attack on Moscow in more than a year on May 17, killing at least four people (three in the Moscow region and one in Belgorod) (investing.com).
  • The drone raids damaged residential areas, infrastructure, and even reached Moscow’s airport perimeter; the assaults reflect Ukraine’s growing long‑range strike capabilities as Kyiv targets energy and military assets deep inside Russia (abc.net.au).

References

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Ukrainian drones did Russia claim to destroy last week?
Russia claimed to have destroyed 3,124 Ukrainian drones over the past week.
When were the highest numbers of drones destroyed?
The highest numbers were destroyed on May 13 (572 drones) and May 17 (1,054 drones).
Were there any casualties reported from the drone attacks?
At least four people were killed, including three in the Moscow region.
Which areas were mostly affected by the drone attacks?
Most drones were downed over European Russia, including the Moscow region.
Who reported the data about the intercepted drones?
The data was reported by the RIA state news agency, citing the Defence Ministry.

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