(Reuters) -Debris from a destroyed Ukrainian drone sparked a fire on the roof of an apartment building in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, forcing the evacuation of 15 residents, acting Rostov regional governor Yuri Slyusar said on Wednesday.
“Most importantly, no one was injured,” Slyusar said on the Telegram messaging app, adding the fire was contained.
Russia’s air defence units destroyed 26 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 15 over the Rostov region, the Russian defence ministry said on Telegram.
The ministry publishes data on the number of drones Russia destroyed, not how many Ukraine launched.
Slyusar said drones were brought down in seven different districts in the region, with falling debris damaging roofs and facades of several residential houses.
TASS state news agency reported that at least seven apartment buildings were damaged following the drone attack in the centre of Rostov-on-Don.
Reuters could not independently verify the reports.
There was no immediate comment from Ukraine. Kyiv, which has intensified its strikes inside Russia in recent months, has said its attacks are in response to Moscow’s continued strikes on Ukraine.
Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war, which Russia launched with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
(Reporting by Ron Popeski and Lidia Kelly; Editing by Nia Williams and Neil Fullick)
