Russia claims downing of 44 UAVs, reports attack on military arsenal in Novgorod

The information comes from the Russian Defense Ministry and the Astra news outlet.

According to reports, 20 UAVs were shot down over the Novgorod region. Another 5 were intercepted over Kursk, 4 over Oryol, 3 over Belgorod, Tula, and Tver, and 2 more over Bryansk, Moscow, and Smolensk regions.

Russian Telegram channels claim the 13th GRAU arsenal in Kotovo, Novgorod region, was hit.

Videos circulating on social media show explosions, gunfire, and flashes of light. However, Astra journalists have not confirmed the authenticity of the footage. Locals say the target was a military base.

The administration of the settlement confirmed to Astra that residents were evacuated after the attack.

This information was echoed by Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council.

"The UAVs targeted the 13th GRAU arsenal in the Novgorod region, near Kotovo — roughly 680 kilometers from the Ukrainian border," the statement reads.

The 13th GRAU arsenal reportedly stores various munitions, including artillery shells, mortar rounds, missiles for Grad, Smerch, and Uragan systems, as well as Iskander and KN23 missiles, anti-aircraft missiles for S-300 and S-400 systems, and Tor ammunition.

• Meanwhile, on the night of November 19, Ukrainian forces reportedly struck the 1046th logistics center near Karachev, Bryansk region, using ATACMS for the first time, according to media reports.