MOSCOW, January 16. /TASS/. The crew of a Russian Verba man-portable missile system has destroyed a Ukrainian Furia unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) conducting reconnaissance along Russian positions in the Artyomovsk area, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

"The on-duty crew detected an aerial target, which was identified as a Ukrainian Furia unmanned aerial vehicle. The crew took effective action to track and destroy the target, using a Verba missile system," the statement reads.

According to the ministry, air defense crews of Russia’s Ivanovo-based Guards Airborne Division continue to perform missions to cover troops and equipment from attacks by the enemy’s reconnaissance and attack drones, as well as to search for aerial vehicles. After enemy drones are detected, paratroopers destroy them by launching missiles from permanent or temporary positions.

"Air defense teams of the Airborne Forces have downed hundreds of Ukrainian UAVs since the start of the special military operation," the Defense Ministry pointed out.