Russian Army Downs Nearly 700 Ukrainian Drones Overnight

June 26, 2026 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Russia’s Defense Ministry said Friday morning that it downed 660 Ukrainian drones across the country and annexed Crimea, marking one of the largest overnight drone attacks since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said at least 47 drones on a trajectory toward the capital had been downed since around 2:30 a.m. local time. He did not report any casualties or damage, noting only that emergency services were working at the sites of fallen debris. In the Tula region, around 180 kilometers (112 miles) south of Moscow, Governor Dmitry Milyayev said a woman was wounded in a Ukrainian drone attack. He said an “industrial facility” was struck in the town of Novomoskovsk. Unverified reports identified the attacked facility as the Azot chemical plant. Reports also said the Novomoskovsk thermal power plant was on fire, which was detected by NASA satellite imagery and led to power outages. Earlier, on Thursday evening, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had approved a 40-day “influence operation” put forward by Ukraine’s SBU security service to “compel” Russia to end the war. Ukraine began ratcheting up its attacks against Russian oil refineries and fuel supply lines in Crimea this spring. Drone strikes have halted or scaled back production at facilities that account for large shares of Russia’s gasoline output, leading to a growing number of fuel rationing measures. Military experts and analysts have told The Moscow Times that the intensified campaign uses mass drone deployments to overwhelm and expose gaps in Russia’s air defenses. Read more about: Drones , Ukraine war Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russia Launches Hundreds of Drones at Ukraine, Defying Trump’s Peace Ultimatum A Russian airstrike on a central square in the frontline town of Dobropillia killed one person and wounded more than 20. 2 Min read Ukrainian Drone Strikes on Voronezh Injure At Least 22 People Regional authorities said a teenager was among those wounded in the early morning attack, while a man was hospitalized in a coma. 3 Min read Ukrainian Attacks on Western Russia Kill At Least 3 Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces destroyed 155 Ukrainian drones that were launched at the country during an overnight barrage. 1 Min read Russian Strikes on Kharkiv Wound 14, Including 4 Children The city’s mayor, Ihor Terekhov, said the attacks ignited fires in homes and schools. Debris fell “right next to playgrounds,” he added. 1 Min read