MOSCOW: Russia said it had destroyed several Ukrainian drones in the border regions of Bryansk and Belgorod overnight from Wednesday to Thursday.

No casualties have been reported so far.

The Russian Defense Ministry said six drones were shot down in four separate locations over the Bryansk region, roughly equidistant between Kiev and Moscow.

“Air defense systems on duty destroyed drones over the territory of the Bryansk region,” they wrote on Telegram.

The governor of Bryansk, Aleksander Bogomaz, said that there was no damage or casualties, and “operational services and emergency services are working on the scene”.

A second drone was shot down further south over the Belgorod region on Wednesday evening, the defense ministry added, saying the attack attempt had been “prevented”.

Belgorod regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said it was “shot down” over the village of Tuljanka, but so far no casualties or damage have been reported.

Since Ukraine launched its counteroffensive in early June, Russia has endured waves of drone attacks in recent months that have occasionally damaged buildings, including in Moscow.

Russian officials downplayed their importance.