Russian forces destroyed 20 Ukrainian drones launched onto the Crimean Peninsula early on Saturday, Russia's defense ministry said. It said 14 drones were destroyed by air defense systems and six were suppressed by electronic warfare. Sergei Kryuchkov, an adviser to the Russia-installed governor of Crimea, said earlier that air defense systems were engaged in repelling air attack in different parts of the peninsula. Ukraine almost never publicly claims responsibility for the attacks but has said destroying Russia's military infrastructure is crucial for Kyiv's counteroffensive. Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, eight years before President Vladimir Putin ordered the full-scale invasion of Russia's neighbor in February last year.

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Persons: Sergei Kryuchkov, Vladimir Putin Organizations: Mechanized Brigade, Reuters, Kremlin Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Donetsk Oblast, Crimea, Russian, Krasnodar, Moscow