Russia says 77 Ukrainian drones knocked down, Kursk nearly retaken

Russia says it downed 77 Ukrainian drones overnight, a day after the US said Kyiv had agreed to a ceasefire pending Russia’s response.

Thirty drones were intercepted and destroyed over the western Bryansk region bordering Ukraine while 25 more were downed over Kaluga, Russia’s defense ministry says.

More drones were intercepted over the regions of Kursk, Voronezh, Rostov and Belgorod, it adds.

The latest barrage comes after Russia said it downed 337 Ukrainian drones across the country Tuesday, including more than 90 in the capital region.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also says Russia’s operation to eject Ukrainian forces from the western Russian region of Kursk has entered its final stage, state news agency TASS reports.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday visited the western Russian region of Kursk for the first time since Ukrainian forces seized some territory in the region.

Ukraine is hoping to use the land it captured as a bargaining chip as it is pushed by the US toward talks to end the war.

The Kremlin said on Wednesday it would review details from Washington about the proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine before responding, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hoped a deal would be struck within days.