On the night of March 23, 2025, residents of Rostov-on-Don and nearby settlements were awakened by a series of powerful explosions that resounded in the sky above the city. According to eyewitnesses, sounds similar to the operation of air defense systems were heard in the northern part of the metropolis, as well as in suburban areas. The SHOT Telegram channel, citing stories from local residents, clarifies that in total at least three loud bangs were recorded, accompanied by bright flashes visible in the dark sky. 

The greatest activity was observed in the Northern District of Rostov and the Suvorovsky microdistrict, where, according to city residents, the flashes were especially distinct. Residents of the village of Chaltyr, located just four kilometers from the city limits, also confirmed that the sounds of explosions reached their settlement. One of the eyewitnesses noted that the noise resembled thunder, but clear weather ruled out a natural origin for the sounds. The first reports of the incident have already appeared on social networks, where people are sharing their impressions and trying to understand what caused the night alarm. 

At the time of writing, the regional authorities and emergency services had not provided detailed comments on the incident. There is no information about possible damage or casualties, leaving residents waiting for clarification. Earlier, the Main Directorate of the Russian Emergencies Ministry for the Rostov Region issued a warning about the potential threat of an attack by unmanned aerial vehicles, calling on the population to remain calm and follow instructions in the event of alarm signals. This message was the first hint at the possible nature of the incident, although no specific confirmation has yet followed. 

The situation in Rostov-on-Don remains in the spotlight, especially against the backdrop of increasingly frequent UAV attacks on Russia's border regions. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, in the last two weeks of March 2025 alone, several drone intrusion attempts were recorded in the Rostov Region, most of which were successfully neutralized by air defense forces. Thus, on March 21, the acting governor of the region, Yuri Slyusar, reported the destruction of six drones over five districts of the region, including Rostov, Salsk, and the Millerovsky District. At the same time, one of the drones crashed into a multi-story residential building on Gorsovetskaya Street, injuring two people and requiring medical assistance due to stress. 

Experts attribute the intensification of attacks to the enemy's attempts to strike strategic objects in the region, including military and industrial infrastructure. Rostov-on-Don, as a major administrative and logistical center in the South of Russia, has repeatedly become the target of such actions.