Russia says it has downed hundreds of Ukrainian drones
Russian authorities say their air defences have shot down more than 260 Ukrainian drones including some approaching Moscow, and the capital's airports were briefly shut down to ensure the safety of flights.
There were no reports of casualties.
As Russia, Ukraine, the United States and European powers discuss ways to end the more than three-year-old conflict in Ukraine, fighting has intensified on some parts of the front and drone warfare has continued.
It was very likely that Russia and Ukraine will hold technical-level talks next week, possibly at the Vatican, Finnish President Alexander Stubb told public broadcaster Yle on Wednesday.
In a series of announcements, Russia's Defence Ministry said on Telegram that at least 262 Ukrainian drones were intercepted or destroyed on Wednesday.
Most were over Russia's western regions bordering Ukraine and central Russia.
But some approached the Moscow region where 21 million people live.
The three major airports in the region halted flights then resumed operations.
Ukrainian drones disrupted air traffic in Moscow throughout Wednesday, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Telegram.
Due to the danger in the air, the aviation authority Rosaviatsiya had to repeatedly stop take-offs and landings at Moscow's airports.
Russia's largest airport, Sheremetyevo, as well as Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports were particularly affected.
Ukraine's military said its drones hit the Bolkhovsky Semiconductor Devices Plant, a supplier in the Oryol region to Russian fighter jet and missile makers.
The war in Ukraine, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people, has become a crucible of drone innovation as both sides send the unmanned vehicles far behind the front lines.
Russia and Ukraine have sought to buy and develop new drones, deploy them innovatively and devise new methods to disable and destroy them, from farmers' shotguns to electronic jamming.
Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces were advancing at key points along the front and pro-Russian war bloggers said Russia had pierced the Ukrainian lines between Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address the heaviest frontline battles were around Pokrovsk and made no reference to any Russian advances.
Zelenskiy said Ukrainian forces remained active in two Russian regions along the border - Kursk and Belgorod.
Reuters could not independently verify battlefield accounts from either side.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday visited the Kursk region for the first time since the Kremlin said Russian forces ejected Ukrainian troops from the area last month.
Putin sent tens of thousands of soldiers into Ukraine in February 2022 and Russia now controls just under one fifth of the country.
with DPA
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