Moscow: Russia and Ukraine traded claims of downing drones as their conflict, ongoing since February 2022, continues to escalate.

According to Qatar News Agency, Ukrainian authorities reported that preliminary data indicated their air defense forces shot down or neutralized 126 Russian drones across the northern, southern, and eastern regions of the country.

In response, Russia's Defense Ministry stated that its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 21 Ukrainian drones following an overnight attack in the southern and southwestern parts of the country.

Since the war began, now in its third year, both Russia and Ukraine have issued near-daily reports asserting successful defenses against each other's attacks. These claims remain unverified by independent sources due to the ongoing war and continuous fighting since Feb. 24, 2022.