Russia Says It Targeted Ships Carrying Military Equipment to Ukraine as Kyiv Claims to Have Downed 163 Drones
Russia’s Ministry of Defense announced on Monday that its forces carried out overnight strikes targeting transportation infrastructure it says is being used to support Ukrainian forces. According to the ministry, four ships allegedly transporting military equipment to Ukraine were targeted, while Russian air defenses intercepted 131 Ukrainian drones over multiple regions.
Meanwhile, Ukraine stated that its air defense systems successfully intercepted the majority of drones launched by Russia during a large-scale overnight attack targeting several regions across the country, claiming to have shot down 163 out of 181 drones in the latest round of escalating aerial exchanges between the two sides.
Moscow: Cargo Ships Targeted, 131 Ukrainian Drones Intercepted
In a statement, the Russian Ministry of Defense said its forces continued overnight operations against transportation facilities that it considers part of Ukraine’s military logistics network. The ministry stated that Russian drones struck three cargo vessels in the Black Sea, along with a fourth ship inside the Port of Mykolaiv, claiming that all four were transporting equipment intended for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The ministry also reported that Russian air defense systems repelled a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack, intercepting and destroying 131 drones between 8:00 p.m. on August 2 and 7:00 a.m. Moscow time on Monday.
According to the statement, the drones were intercepted over the Russian regions of Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kaluga, Kursk, Lipetsk, Oryol, Smolensk, and Tula, as well as over Crimea, Krasnodar Krai, and the Black Sea.
In a separate development, Russia’s TASS news agency cited local officials as saying that a drone attack targeted the Vladimir region in central Russia, sparking a fire at a warehouse and causing damage to the site. The extent of the losses has not yet been determined.
These developments come as Moscow and Kyiv continue exchanging aerial strikes, with both sides increasingly relying on drones to target military positions and critical infrastructure.
Kyiv: Most Russian Drones Intercepted During Massive Overnight Attack
Ukraine’s Air Force announced that its air defenses had successfully repelled a large-scale overnight Russian drone assault, reporting the destruction of 163 out of 181 drones launched toward Ukrainian territory.
In a statement posted on Telegram, the Air Force said Russia used Shahed, Gerbera, and Italmas drones, along with other models. The drones were launched from several locations within Russia, including Bryansk, Kursk, Millerovo, Oryol, and Shatalovo, as well as from areas in Donetsk and the Crimean Peninsula.
Ukraine’s national news agency Ukrinform reported that the attack targeted northern, southern, and eastern regions of the country. Air defense units, electronic warfare teams, interceptor drones, and mobile fire groups from the Air Force and Air Defense Forces all participated in the interception efforts.
Ukrainian officials said their defense systems significantly reduced the impact of the attack as part of ongoing efforts to counter increasingly frequent Russian drone assaults targeting critical infrastructure and strategic facilities across the country.
The latest military statements from both Moscow and Kyiv underscore the continuing air war between the two sides. Each regularly reports intercepting dozens—or even hundreds—of enemy drones while continuing strikes on military and logistical infrastructure. Meanwhile, ground fighting remains active along multiple frontlines, with no clear indications that a ceasefire or political settlement is imminent.
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Author: Counselor Faisal Al-Mutairi
Publication Date: August 4, 2026
Last Updated: August 2026
