Belgorod, Russia – In a series of coordinated attacks, Russian officials reported that 50 drones targeted various regions of Russia during the late hours of April 19 and early morning of April 20. The drone onslaught resulted in severe damage to multiple energy infrastructure facilities, including fires and casualties in one settlement.
According to reports, Russian air defense forces successfully intercepted and destroyed three unmanned aerial vehicles over the Belgorod region. Witnesses described explosions near Stary Oskol, accompanied by a bright flash in the sky, with footage capturing a fire outside the city.
Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov of the Belgorod region revealed that a private residential building in the village of Poroz caught fire due to detonation of explosive devices from the drone attack. Tragically, two civilians lost their lives – a woman with a fractured femoral neck and a man who was trying to help her. Meanwhile, the woman’s son managed to escape the burning house. The consequences of the drone attack led to the complete destruction of a private residential building and a barn, with another residential structure suffering significant damage.
In the Bryansk region, Governor Oleksandr Bogomaz reported six drones being destroyed. One downed drone caused a fire at an energy infrastructure facility upon impact.
Governor Roman Starovoit of the Kursk region confirmed the destruction of five drones by Russian air defense forces. An alert was issued due to the ongoing threat of UAV attacks.
Furthermore, Governor Vladyslav Shapsha of the Kaluga region disclosed that a drone explosion near an electric substation in the Maloyaroslavets district caused minor damage to energy infrastructure, with no casualties reported. Emergency response teams are currently on-site to repair the damage.
Governor Vasyliy Anokhin of the Smolensk region reported a drone attack on a fuel and energy complex facility in the Kardymovsky district around 2:00 am. While air defense forces managed to shoot down the drone, falling debris ignited a container of fuel and lubricants, prompting response teams to work on extinguishing the resulting flames.
In total, it is alleged that Russian air defense units intercepted and destroyed 50 drones overnight, with the highest number targeted over the Belgorod region, followed by the Bryansk, Kursk, and other regions across the country. The aftermath of the drone attacks underscores the importance of vigilance and preparedness in safeguarding critical infrastructure against modern threats.