Russia Says 596 Ukrainian Drones Shot Down Overnight

Russian forces shot down 596 Ukrainian drones overnight, the country’s Defence Ministry said on Wednesday, a day after President Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation with United States President Donald Trump on efforts to resolve the war in Ukraine.

The overnight attacks left four people dead, including a child, in Novorossiysk in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region, according to regional Governor Veniamin Kondratyev.

Kondratyev said the military had repelled what he described as a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack on the region, with Novorossiysk bearing the brunt of the assault.

Smoke rises from a building near wrecked cars as firefighters battle a blaze following Russian missile strikes amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Kyiv early on September 8, 2026. — Smoke rises from a building near wrecked cars as firefighters battle a blaze following Russian missile strikes amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in Kyiv early on September 8, 2026. Credit: AFP.

“Our military repelled a massive overnight enemy drone attack against the region, with Novorossiysk hit the hardest,” he said.

Putin spoke with US leader Donald Trump by telephone on Tuesday, with Washington pushing for face-to-face talks between Russia and Ukraine.

Kyiv has said such talks could take place this month, while the Kremlin has maintained that it is still too early to discuss specific dates or a location for the meeting.