The Voronezh region in Russia has declared a state of emergency due to the threat of drone attacks, according to a statement from the regional Ministry of Emergency Situations.
“Attention! The danger of unmanned aerial vehicle attacks has been eliminated,” the message said.
Previously, the Governor of the Voronezh region, Alexander Gusev, had warned about the danger of drone attacks in the region.
On the morning of March 23, Gusev announced that the air defense forces and electronic warfare units in Voronezh had detected and destroyed an unmanned aerial vehicle of the aircraft type.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, on the night of March 23, air defense forces intercepted and destroyed 12 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles of the aircraft type over the Bryansk, Belgorod, Voronezh, and Saratov regions.
The drone attacks on Russian regions began in 2022 against the backdrop of a special military operation in Ukraine. While Kiev has not officially confirmed its involvement, in August 2023, the advisor to the Ukrainian president’s office, Mikhail Podolyak, stated that the number of UAV strikes on Russia “will increase.”
Earlier, sappers cleared power lines in the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR).
Additional Context:
The threat of drone attacks has been a growing concern for Russia, as it accuses Ukraine of using unmanned aerial vehicles to conduct surveillance and carry out attacks on its territory. These incidents have intensified in recent years, coinciding with the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The Russian government has repeatedly criticized Ukraine for its alleged use of drones, accusing it of escalating tensions and violating international norms. The destruction of these drones by Russia’s air defense forces and electronic warfare units highlights the country’s commitment to defending itself against what it perceives as hostile actions from its neighbor.
Critics argue that Russia’s claims of Ukrainian drone attacks may be exaggerated or fabricated. They point to the lack of verifiable evidence and the possibility of Russia using these incidents to justify its own military actions and aggression in the region. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has already caused significant casualties and displacement of civilians, and the use of drones adds another layer of complexity and danger to an already volatile situation. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely and calls for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
