The Russian Ministry of Defense announced on Tuesday that its forces had shot down 23 Ukrainian drones attempting to target sites within Russian territory. The ministry noted that air defense systems successfully intercepted the attack, describing it as “intense and coordinated.”

In a separate battlefield development, the ministry confirmed that Russian forces had made advances along the Kursk axis, seizing several strategic positions near the border with Ukraine as part of the ongoing military operations since the beginning of the conflict.

Moscow stated that the operations were conducted “in response to Ukrainian provocations” and aimed at “ensuring national security.” Kyiv has not issued an official comment on the developments so far.

This escalation comes as fighting continues on multiple fronts, amid international warnings about the potential expansion of the conflict and the worsening humanitarian crisis in the region.