Russian authorities have reported intercepting or destroying at least 70,000 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions and occupied Crimea since 2023, according to a count by Proekt.
More than half of that total was reported in the first half of 2026. The journalists compiled the figures primarily from statements by regional governors and other Russian official sources.
The figure of 70,000 does not mean that the destruction of each of those drones was independently verified. It represents Proekt’s own tally based on claims made by Russian authorities.
The outlet also analyzed the geography and intensity of the attacks. During the war, drone strikes have increasingly reached regions hundreds or thousands of kilometers from Ukraine, including oil refineries, warehouses and other facilities.
Russian authorities disclose only part of the information about the consequences of attacks, making it impossible to independently determine from open sources the exact number of drones launched, intercepted or able to reach their targets. More details are available in Proekt’s investigation.