In this photo taken from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Aug 8, 2023, a Russian howitzer fires toward Ukrainian positions at an undisclosed location. (PHOTO / RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY PRESS VIA AP)

MOSCOW/KYIV - The Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday that it had thwarted Ukraine's attempts to carry out attacks with drones, which caused no casualties or damage.

Two Ukrainian drones flying towards Moscow were shot down by air defense systems over the Maloyaroslavets district of Kaluga region and the Odintsovo district of Moscow region, according to the ministry.

Near the city of Sevastopol, two Ukrainian drones were destroyed by air defense systems and nine were jammed and fell into the Black Sea.

On Wednesday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Washington has committed a war crime by supplying cluster munitions to Ukraine.

A man drives a scooter past destroyed cars by a Uragan cluster missile strike in Lyman, Donetsk region in Ukraine, on July 8, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

"Given the growing shortage of ammunition for Western-manufactured artillery systems within the Armed forces of Ukraine, Washington has committed a war crime by including cluster munitions," Shoigu said at a defense ministry board meeting, as reported on the ministry's website.

Two Ukrainian drones flying towards Moscow were shot down by air defense systems over the Maloyaroslavets district of Kaluga region and the Odintsovo district of Moscow region, according to the Russian Defense Ministry

He pointed out that the United States is further escalating the conflict by "seeking deliveries of increasingly long-range and deadly weapons" from its allies.

Meanwhile, Russia's national security service said it had arrested a suspect in Crimea who blew up a gas pipeline.

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According to a statement by the Federal Security Service, the saboteur is a Russian citizen involved in "a sabotage and terrorist act at the energy infrastructure facility of the Republic of Crimea."

The detainee confessed to collaborating with special services of Ukraine to carry out terrorist attacks in late June, the statement added.

Separately, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Tuesday that the country hopes to increase its exports through Moldova after the construction of a new bridge over the Dniester River on the joint border.

"Ukrainian exporters will have a convenient way to southeastern Europe and will increase the volume of their goods' exports," Shmyhal was quoted as saying by the government press service.

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The bridge, with its construction greenlighted by the Ukrainian government earlier in the day, will become a key element of the transport corridor between Kiev and Chisinau, Shmyhal said.