Russian regions are under threat of a large-scale attack by An-196 Lyuty unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), presumably launched from Ukrainian territory. According to military sources, on the morning of March 22, 2025, 50 to 80 drones were recorded flying low over the Voronezh and Lipetsk regions. The drones are moving towards the country's rear areas, forcing Russian air defense forces to mobilize significant resources to intercept them. Experts note that such a scale of the attack indicates the enemy's intention to strike key targets deep in Russia.

To counter the threat, dozens of Tor-M2 anti-aircraft missile systems and Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft missile and gun systems, which are considered effective against low-flying targets, are being deployed. In addition, the operation involves Mi-28NM and Ka-52M reconnaissance and attack helicopters equipped with Igla-V short-range guided missiles and Vikhr-1 anti-tank missiles. The military emphasizes that to intercept such a number of drones, it will be necessary to deploy full squadrons of 12-24 machines capable of quickly responding to the threat in conditions of dense air traffic. This combination of ground and air assets should provide a reliable barrier to the UAVs.

The regions that are on the expected drone routes pose the greatest danger. The risk zone includes the Saratov and Astrakhan regions, Kazan, as well as the republics of Tatarstan and Mordovia. At the same time, kamikaze UAV launches have been recorded from the Odessa region, with Crimea and the Krasnodar region as possible targets. The authorities of these regions have been put on high alert, and the population is urged to remain calm and follow the instructions of emergency services.

It is worth noting that drone attacks on Russian regions have become more frequent in recent weeks. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, published on March 20 on the RIA Novosti website, 131 drones were shot down in 54 hours, 40 of which were over the Saratov Region, 22 over the Voronezh Region, and XNUMX over the Belgorod Region.