Russia's air forces thwarted a coordinated Ukrainian attack on Crimea early on Sunday (Sept 17), destroying at least six drones that were targeting the peninsula from different directions, the Russian defence ministry said.

Axar.az reports that two drones were destroyed at 1:15 a.m. (6.15 am Singapore time) off the western coast of Crimea and four more half an hour later off the northwestern and eastern coasts, the ministry said on the Telegram messaging app.

The ministry did not say whether there was any damage or casualties. Reuters could not independently verify the report and there was no immediate comment from Ukraine.

The reports come after a series of strikes this week on Russian military targets on the Crimean Peninsula, seen as Kyiv's increased attempts to break down Russia's war efforts. Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine in a broadly condemned move in 2014.