Russia says destroys 17 Ukraine-launched drones over Black Sea, Crimea

FILE PHOTO: Governor of Sevastopol Mikhail Razvozhayev attends a ceremony marking 240th anniversary of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, Crimea May 13, 2023. REUTERS/Alexey Pavlishak/File Photo

(Reuters) -Russia's air defence systems destroyed and intercepted a total of 17 Ukraine-launched drones early on Tuesday over the Black Sea and the Crimean Peninsula territory, the Russian defence ministry said.

Nine drones were destroyed by air defence systems and eight were intercepted by electronic warfare, the ministry said on the Telegram messaging app.