(Reuters) -Russian air defence units destroyed dozens of Ukrainian drones over widely separated regions of Russia on Tuesday, including more than 40 over Voronezh region on the Ukrainian border, officials said.
Voronezh regional Governor Alexander Gusev, writing on Telegram, said there were no injuries and more than 40 drones were destroyed over urban areas and near the border.
The governor of Ulyanovsk region on the Volga River said eight drones had been repelled without any casualties.
Russia's Defence Ministry said 22 drones had been destroyed over nearly four hours.
It noted 13 drones downed over Voronezh and others over Saratov and Samara regions and Tatarstan, all along the Volga, as well as in Belgorod Region on the Ukrainian border.
Reuters could not independently verify the attacks.
Ukraine has beefed up its capacity of drone construction and strikes since the start of the 40-month-old war against Russia. In an attack earlier this month, dubbed "Operation Spider's Web", it targeted Russian long-range bombers at air bases.
Russia has intensified its drone and missile strikes on Ukrainian cities in recent months. A missile attack on Tuesday in southeastern Ukraine killed at least 17 people.
(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
