Russia says it downed 220 Ukrainian drones over nine hours
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 26, 2026
1 min readLast updated: February 26, 2026

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 26, 2026
1 min readLast updated: February 26, 2026

Russia says air defenses downed 220 Ukrainian drones over nine hours, with varying counts for those headed toward Moscow. A later update cited 53 destroyed in the three hours to 11 p.m., while Moscow’s mayor reported 27 drones aimed at the capital.
Feb 26 (Reuters) - Russia's Defence Ministry said on Thursday its air defence units had downed 220 Ukrainian drones over a nine-hour period, including 24 headed for Moscow.
The latest ministry statement said 53 drones were intercepted and destroyed in a three-hour period ending 11 p.m. (2000 GMT).
Many of the drones were intercepted over regions in central Russia. The ministry said 12 had targeted the Russian capital.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, writing on Telegram, said 27 drones had been downed while heading for the city, starting at about 5 p.m.
(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Alistair Bell)
Russia’s Defence Ministry says its air defenses downed 220 Ukrainian drones over nine hours, with additional figures provided for a shorter three-hour window.
Official tallies varied: the ministry cited 12–24 drones targeting the capital at different times, while Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported 27 drones heading toward the city.
Officials referenced a nine-hour period with a notable three-hour span ending 11 p.m. (2000 GMT). Many drones were intercepted over central Russian regions and on approaches to Moscow.
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