Kathrine Frich
Residents of a major Russian city were jolted awake by explosions after air defence systems were activated overnight.
What officials described as a defensive response quickly turned into confusion as damage was reported in a residential area.
Footage shared online has since raised questions about what actually happened.
Night of explosions
A missile struck an apartment building in Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia, according to eyewitnesses and videos posted on social media, as reported by Digi24.
Locals said they heard multiple explosions during the night while air defence systems appeared to be firing in the city.
Authorities had earlier warned residents about a possible Ukrainian drone attack and issued several alerts.
Video clips circulating online showed flashes in the sky and the aftermath of a fire at a residential block.
Official response
The mayor of Rostov-on-Don confirmed that a fire broke out in an apartment building following the incident.
He said the damage was caused by the crash of a Ukrainian drone.
Russian authorities did not acknowledge any malfunction or error by air defence units. No detailed explanation was provided about how the drone allegedly reached a densely populated area.
Emergency services were seen at the scene, and residents were evacuated from the affected building.
Familiar pattern
According to Digi24, this would not be the first time Russian forces have accidentally hit their own territory while attempting to intercept Ukrainian air attacks.
Since the start of the war, there have been several incidents in which Russian missiles or air defence systems have fallen short or malfunctioned, causing damage inside Russia.
Such events have often been officially attributed to Ukrainian drones or debris, even when independent evidence has suggested otherwise.
Sources: Digi24
