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Russia reports mass drone shootdowns, Ukraine claims strikes on Russian targets

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HotTV

HotTV

Russia reports mass drone shootdowns, Ukraine claims strikes on Russian targets

2026-03-15 09:39 Last Updated At:03-16 13:21

Russia and Ukraine on Saturday reported heavy strikes and drone attacks against each other over the past day, as fighting continued along the front lines.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said that Russian armed forces had launched large-scale strikes on Ukrainian military-industrial enterprises and energy facilities used by the Ukrainian military in the past 24 hours.

The ministry also reported that, between 20:00 on Friday and 11:00 on Saturday, Russian air defense units shot down a total of 124 Ukrainian drones over southwestern Russia and nearby sea areas.

On the same day, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said there had been 153 combat clashes along the front lines over the past day. Ukrainian air force, missile and artillery units carried out strikes on Russian forces. In the early hours of Saturday, Ukraine also targeted multiple Russian military and logistics infrastructure sites.

Russian air defense force units downed at least 14 drones heading toward Moscow on Saturday, said Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.

"Emergency services personnel are working at the site where the drone debris fell," Sobyanin said on Telegram.

According to Russian sources, the Ukrainian drone attack was one of the largest on Moscow so far this year.

Temporary restrictions on aircraft arrivals and departures were imposed for flight safety reasons at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport and Domodedovo Airport, said Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency.

On Saturday evening, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that between 11:00 and 21:00 on the day, Russian air defense forces intercepted and shot down 280 Ukrainian drones over various regions of Russia, including 47 drones headed for Moscow. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine did not make response in its daily report.

Russia reports mass drone shootdowns, Ukraine claims strikes on Russian targets

Russia reports mass drone shootdowns, Ukraine claims strikes on Russian targets

International crude oil prices plunged more than 6 percent at the start of the new trading week, as investors reacted to the pause in U.S.-Iran military strikes.

As of 18:43 EDT (22:43 GMT) on Sunday, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for September delivery fell to an intraday low of 83.10 U.S. dollars per barrel, down 6.21 dollars, or 6.95 percent. Brent crude for September delivery dropped to an intraday low of 89.58 dollars per barrel, down 7.20 dollars, or 7.44 percent.

The market relief also lifted U.S. stock index futures significantly, while gold and silver futures posted notable gains.

In Asian trading on Monday, oil prices extended losses amid reports that Pakistan was pushing to restart U.S.-Iran talks, fueling optimism over de‑escalation in the Middle East.

As of 06:20 Beijing time Monday (22:20 GMT Sunday), WTI crude for September delivery was trading at 84.88 dollars per barrel, down 4.96 percent, while Brent crude for September delivery stood at 92.04 dollars per barrel, down 4.90 percent.

The pullback came after U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday ordered the U.S. military not to carry out strikes on Iran that day, breaking a 13‑day streak of consecutive U.S. air attacks on Iranian targets, according to media reports.

Iran confirmed on Sunday it had halted retaliatory attacks after the United States stopped its strikes over the past two nights.

Oil prices plunge over 6 pct as US-Iran hostilities pause

Oil prices plunge over 6 pct as US-Iran hostilities pause

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