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Russia announces the destruction of 42 Ukrainian drones and the surrender of intelligence officers in Zaporizhzhia
Russia announced today, Saturday, that the Russian air defense systems managed to shoot down and destroy 42 Ukrainian drones overnight, in addition to revealing the surrender of a number of Ukrainian intelligence officers to Russian forces in the Zaporizhzhia region.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the air defense systems shot down 42 Ukrainian drones during the night, which lasted from 11:00 PM Moscow time on September 12 to 6:00 AM on September 13. The statement clarified that the drones were shot down over the territories of Rostov (15 drones), Belgorod (12 drones), Volgograd (10 drones), as well as two drones over the Republic of Crimea, and one drone over Kaluga, Kursk, and Smolensk regions.
In another development, the commander of the independent special forces unit, known as "Viking," told Sputnik agency that officers from Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate surrendered to Russian fighters on the Zaporizhzhia front. He explained that cases of surrender have increased recently, and some of these officers fell into Russian hands as a result of planned deception operations, where the Russian army exploited terrain, weather, and various technological means for infiltration.
In the context of military operations, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the liberation of the town of Novoboitrovskoye in Dnipropetrovsk region, confirming that joint strikes during the week targeted Ukrainian defense industry facilities, military airports, and weapons and equipment depots. The ministry stated that between September 6 and 12, Russian forces carried out seven large-scale operations using precision weapons and drones, resulting in the destruction of military and industrial infrastructure facilities in Ukraine, as well as depots and enemy airports, thereby strengthening Russian control in the region.
