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Russia Says Downed 16 Ukrainian Drones in South, Crimea

S-400 Triumf anti-aircraft missile systems in Crimea. Sergei Malgavko / TASS

Russia said Friday it had destroyed 16 Ukrainian drones in the south of the country and over the annexed Crimean peninsula.

On Thursday night, "an attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack using aerial drones against sites on the territory of the Russian Federation was thwarted," Russia's Defense Ministry said.

"Air defense systems destroyed 16 drones, including 13 over the Crimean peninsula and three over the territory of the Volgograd region."

Ukraine has ramped up drone and missile attacks on Russian military installations in and around the peninsula in recent months.

Crimea — annexed by Russia in 2014 — serves as the rear base for the Black Sea Fleet and a key supply route for Russian forces in southern and eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine's military meanwhile said its air defense systems had downed three Iranian-designed attack drones launched by Russian forces overnight.

They also said Russia had launched two guided air missiles but did not provide details.

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