On October 20, a significant escalation occurred in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that their air defense systems successfully intercepted and destroyed over 110 Ukrainian drones during a series of overnight attacks across seven regions of western Russia. The majority of these drones were targeted at the border region of Kursk, where 43 were shot down.
Additionally, footage circulating on social media appeared to show air defense operations in Dzerzhinsk, located in the Nizhny Novgorod region, which is home to an explosives factory. Local authorities reported that four fighters were injured while defending the industrial area, although specific details were not provided.
This level of aerial activity is relatively rare within Russia, especially considering the full-scale invasion of Ukraine commenced in February 2022. A similar drone attack was recorded in late September, with the Russian Ministry of Defense announcing the destruction of 125 drones across several regions.
Meanwhile, in Ukraine, the city of Kryvyi Rih experienced a dire situation as two Russian ballistic missiles struck, resulting in 17 injuries. Local administration head Oleksandr Vilkul indicated that the missile strikes damaged multiple residential and commercial properties. In response to these attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the continuous aggression, stating that Russia had launched around 800 guided bombs and over 500 drones targeting Ukraine in just the past week. He characterized these actions as a form of “deliberate terror” against the Ukrainian people. He called for sustained air support from international allies, emphasizing the need for a united front against such attacks.
