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Russia’s Battlegroup West has reported shooting down dozens of Ukrainian heavy quadcopters and other unmanned aerial vehicles over the past day, according to statements from the group’s spokesman Ivan Bigma, carried by the Russian state news agency TASS.

In the most recent account, dated July 26, Bigma said that over the past day the group destroyed 109 heavy quadrocopters, 39 aircraft-type drones, and three barrage munitions. The statement also mentioned the destruction of 48 Ukrainian drone control points, a Starlink satellite communications station, two all-terrain vehicles, 29 robotic complexes, and four enemy field ammunition depots. In addition, the group’s units destroyed three enemy mortars.

Earlier in the week, on July 14, Bigma reported that over the previous 24 hours the battlegroup had destroyed 107 Ukrainian heavy quadcopters, 118 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles, and 47 enemy drone control centers. He also said that air defense crews and mobile armed units shot down 188 fixed-wing UAVs, 107 heavy quadcopters, and five loitering munitions. Two Ukrainian ammunition depots were also reported destroyed.

Coverage Comparison

All six TASS reports, which span from July 6 to July 26, attribute the figures to Bigma, described as the battlegroup’s spokesman or the head of its press center. The figures vary considerably across the reports, reflecting different days of fighting.

For instance, the July 12 report says that over the past day the group shot down 93 heavy quadcopters and 45 fixed-wing drones, as well as two enemy guided aviation munitions and a loitering munition. The report also says that two field munition depots, 45 drone control centers, and two Starlink satellite communication stations were destroyed.

The July 10 report gives different numbers: 108 heavy quadcopters, 112 fixed-wing drones, and 45 unmanned aircraft control centers. It also mentions four guided air-launched munitions, nine loitering munitions, six field ammunition depots, and a Starlink satellite communications station.

On July 7, the reported figures were lower: 65 heavy quadcopters, 29 fixed-wing UAVs, a guided air-launched munition, and three loitering munitions. That report also mentions two field ammunition depots, 46 UAV control centers, and a Starlink satellite communications station.

The July 6 report cites 111 heavy quadcopters, 35 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles, one loitering munition, six field ammunition depots, 43 UAV command posts, and two Starlink terminals.

All reports describe the events in neutral language, relying on Bigma’s statements. TASS presents these as the official Russian military’s claims, with no independent verification or comment from Ukrainian authorities.

Key Claims

  • In a July 26 statement, Bigma said the battlegroup destroyed 109 heavy quadrocopters, 39 aircraft-type drones, three barrage munitions, 48 UAV control points, a Starlink station, two all-terrain vehicles, 29 robotic complexes, and four field ammunition depots over the past day.
  • On July 14, Bigma reported 107 heavy quadcopters, 118 fixed-wing UAVs, 47 drone control centers, two ammunition depots, and five loitering munitions destroyed.
  • The July 12 report claimed 93 heavy quadcopters, 45 fixed-wing UAVs, two guided aviation munitions, one loitering munition, two field munition depots, 45 drone control centers, and two Starlink stations.
  • On July 10, the reported figures were 108 heavy quadcopters, 112 fixed-wing drones, 45 unmanned aircraft control centers, four guided air-launched munitions, nine loitering munitions, six field ammunition depots, and one Starlink station.
  • The July 7 report said 65 heavy quadcopters, 29 fixed-wing UAVs, one guided air-launched munition, three loitering munitions, two field ammunition depots, 46 UAV control centers, and one Starlink station were destroyed.
  • The July 6 report cited 111 heavy quadcopters, 35 fixed-wing UAVs, one loitering munition, six field ammunition depots, 43 UAV command posts, and two Starlink terminals.