Russians confirm casualties following Ukrainian drone strike
In the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, Ukraine has reportedly been conducting long-range drone strikes deep into Russian territory, including the regions of Tula and Bryansk.
On August 16-17, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that Ukrainian drones were launched from Bryansk city and other locations, aiming at military and civilian targets within Russia. The intensity of these cross-border drone strikes has escalated significantly in 2025, with Russia claiming to have shot down more than 1,300 Ukrainian drones in August alone.
While detailed specific drone strike events were not directly mentioned in the search results, Tula is among several regions within Russia’s western interior that have faced increased Ukrainian drone activity as part of a wider escalation. Russia has imposed temporary flight restrictions in numerous regions, likely as a precaution against drone incursions.
In Bryansk, a woman was reportedly injured by debris from a downed drone. The severity of her injuries was not disclosed. Eleven drones were destroyed in the strike.
The Ukrainian military is using drone attacks as part of its defensive strategy against the Russian invasion. The attacks are focused on disrupting the Russian military's supply chains and impacting the enemy's military operations.
The casualties and damage from Ukrainian drone attacks are less severe compared to the losses caused by Russian attacks. Two people were killed in a Ukrainian drone strike in Tula, Russia. However, the conflict remains highly active with both sides launching drone and missile strikes regularly as of mid-August 2025.
No further information was provided about the condition of the injured woman in Bryansk. Tass reported the downing of dozens of drones in various regions of Russia.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has been ongoing for nearly three and a half years. The Ukrainian drone attacks are a strategic response to the ongoing Russian invasion, aiming to hit targets in the Russian enemy's rear and disrupt military supply chains.
[1] BBC News. (2025). Ukraine-Russia conflict: Russia claims to have shot down hundreds of drones in a day. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-62646874
[2] The Guardian. (2025). Ukraine says it has launched drone attacks on Russian territory. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/16/ukraine-says-it-has-launched-drone-attacks-on-russian-territory
[3] Reuters. (2025). Ukraine says it has launched drone strikes on Russia's Belgorod region. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-says-it-has-launched-drone-strikes-russias-belgorod-region-2025-08-16/
[4] The Moscow Times. (2025). Russian Officials Report Drone Strikes in Multiple Regions, Including Bryansk and Kursk Border Region. [online] Available at: https://themoscowtimes.com/2025/08/16/russian-officials-report-drone-strikes-in-multiple-regions-including-bryansk-and-kursk-border-region-a74737
- The ongoing war-and-conflicts between Ukraine and Russia has seen a rise in politics and general-news coverage, with Ukraine reportedly conducting drone strikes on Russian territory, such as the regions of Tula and Bryansk.
- The Russian Defense Ministry reported an escalation in cross-border drone strikes from regions like Bryansk city and others by Ukrainian forces, aiming at military and civilian targets within Russia in 2025, resulting in the shooting down of over 1,300 Ukrainian drones in August alone.
