Feb 26 (Reuters) - Russian defence units destroyed 83

Ukrainian drones over the country's southern Krasnodar region in

an overnight attack that damaged several houses including in the

Black Sea port of Tuapse, Russian officials said on Wednesday.

The Russian defence ministry said in a statement that a

total of 128 Ukrainian drones were downed over the Russian

territory. The ministry does not report potential damage or the

full scope of the Ukrainian attacks.

Krasnodar's Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said in a post on

the Telegram messaging app that three residential houses were

damaged throughout the region, but there were no immediate

reports of injuries.

A house in Tuapse caught fire but that has since been

extinguished, Sergei Boiko, head of the Tuapse municipality,

said on Telegram.

He added that the work of air defence systems continued.

Russia's SHOT news Telegram channel reported that Ukrainian

drones appeared to be aimed at the port area and that residents

heard about 40 explosions in what they said sounded like air

defence systems in operation.

Reuters could not independently verify the SHOT report.

There was no immediate comment from Ukraine.

Tuapse is home to Russia's biggest oil refinery on the Black

Sea which has been targeted by Ukrainian drones several times

since the start of the war that Moscow launched against its

smaller neighbour three years ago.

Russia's aviation watchdog Rosaviatsia said on Telegram that

the nearby international airport of Sochi, some 150 km (93

miles) southeast of Tuapse, was closed to air traffic as of 2247

GMT Tuesday to ensure air safety.