The interceptor drone collided directly with the central part of the Shahed, causing its destruction in mid-air. These vehicles are designed to reach high speeds quickly and are equipped with fragmentation warheads, increasing effectiveness against airborne targets, even without direct impact, thanks to the blast radius.

Russia fired a record 728 Shahed and decoy drones at Ukraine overnight, as well as 13 cruise and ballistic missiles, the Ukrainian air force said, in the latest escalation after weeks of mounting Russian aerial and ground attacks in the more than three-year war.

As Russia intensifies its air strikes against Ukraine, its tactics have visibly shifted, with a growing number of missile and drone attacks now targeting western regions once considered relatively safe.