Credited from: REUTERS
On January 11, 2025, reports from both Reuters and VOA News confirmed that Ukraine conducted drone strikes across several regions in Russia, resulting in injuries to at least three individuals in the Tambov region. Evgeny Pervyshov, the regional head, indicated via Telegram that victims suffered from cuts due to shattering window glass after drones struck two residential houses in Kotovsk, located approximately 480 kilometers southeast of Moscow. Thankfully, the damage was minor, and authorities have offered residents temporary housing without necessitating an evacuation.
Furthermore, Russia's defense ministry announced that it successfully intercepted and destroyed a total of 85 Ukrainian drones overnight, with activities recorded over crucial areas including 31 drones over the Black Sea and several others in the Voronezh and Krasnodar regions. This situation also led to temporary flight suspensions at airports in Kazan, Nizhnekamsk, and Ulyanovsk as a precautionary measure to ensure safety amid the rising conflict.
In a broader context, both Russia and Ukraine have increasingly relied on cheap commercial drones, which have been adapted for military use, marking a significant evolution in their combat strategies. The ongoing conflict between the two nations continues to see heightened tensions over drone warfare, with both sides utilizing footage of drone strikes for propaganda purposes. Additionally, on the preceding Friday, Russia accused Ukraine of executing a missile strike against a supermarket in the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.