Russia says destroyed 42 Ukraine-launched drones over Crimea

Russia's defence ministry has said its air defence forces destroyed a large-scale Ukrainian-launched drone attack on the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014. Crimea has been targeted by Kyiv since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but has come under more intense, increased attacks in recent weeks. The Russian Ministry of Defence said early on Friday its forces shot down nine drones, while 33 others "were suppressed by electronic warfare and crashed without reaching the target". It did not elaborate on whether there had been any damage or casualties. It added that it had also shot down a Ukraine-launched missile over the Kaluga region, which borders the Moscow region.