RUSSIAN authorities said today that the military had shot down and intercepted 69 Ukrainian drones.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said: “69 Ukrainian aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed and intercepted by the air defence system.

The ministry said that 21 drones had been shot down over the Krasnodar region, 13 over Voronezh, 10 over Belgorod, seven over Astrakhan, six over the territory of the Volgograd region, three over Rostov and two over the territory of the Bryansk region.

One UAV was shot down over both the Kursk and Ryazan regions and another over the Republic of Crimea. Four others were shot down over the waters of the Sea of Azov, according to a statement from the ministry.

Russia then hit Ukraine’s capital on Sunday with a massive attack of over 800 drones and decoys, reportedly the largest attack in the war.

The attack on Kiev, which also targeted a government building housing Ukraine’s cabinet, reportedly killed at least two people.

This is the first time Russia has targeted a government building in the city centre during its attacks on the capital.

Ukrainian authorities claimed its forces shot down and neutralised 747 drones and four missiles.

Ukrainian authorities said there were nine missile hits and 56 drone strikes in 37 locations across Ukraine. Debris from shot-down drones and missiles fell on eight locations.

Ukraine’s Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said: “The world must respond to this destruction not only with words, but with actions. There is a need to strengthen sanctions pressure — primarily against Russian oil and gas,” she said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he is ready to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate a peace agreement, and has urged United States President Donald Trump to slap more sanctions on Russia to push it to end the war.