Ukraine Launches Major Drone Strike on Moscow in One of the Largest Attacks

Photo : Reuters

On Wednesday, Ukraine launched a significant drone assault on Moscow, deploying at least 11 drones in what Russian officials have described as one of the most substantial drone strikes on the capital since the conflict began in February 2022. The Russian defense systems successfully intercepted and destroyed all of the incoming drones, according to statements from Russian officials.

The ongoing conflict, primarily characterized by a protracted artillery and drone warfare across eastern Ukraine’s fields, forests, and villages, escalated notably on August 6 when Ukraine launched a substantial military incursion into Russia’s Kursk region. This marked a dramatic intensification of the conflict, which had previously been focused more narrowly on eastern Ukraine.

In recent months, Ukraine has intensified its drone strikes against Russian infrastructure, targeting refineries and airfields within Russia. However, significant drone attacks within the Moscow region—home to over 21 million people—have been relatively uncommon. On Wednesday, Russia's defense ministry reported the destruction of a total of 45 drones over its territory. This included 11 drones over Moscow, 23 over the Bryansk region, six over Belgorod, three over Kaluga, and two over Kursk.

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Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin noted that some of the drones were brought down over the city of Podolsk, located approximately 38 kilometers south of the Kremlin. He described the event as “one of the largest attempts to attack Moscow using drones ever,” and praised the city’s layered defense systems for successfully repelling all attacks.

Despite the dramatic nature of the attack, life in Moscow appeared largely unaffected. Cafes, restaurants, and shops continued to bustle with activity, and President Vladimir Putin proceeded with a scheduled meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Kremlin. Two Russian citizens who spoke anonymously to Reuters remarked that the thwarted drone assault underscored Moscow’s robust defensive capabilities and suggested that Ukraine’s aggressive tactics might provoke further retaliation.

In eastern Ukraine, Russia continues to advance, currently controlling approximately 18% of Ukrainian territory. The ongoing battle in Kursk represents the most significant foreign attack on Russian soil since World War II. Russian media outlets have released unverified footage showing drones being intercepted and destroyed by air defenses over the Moscow region.

The drone attack briefly disrupted operations at Moscow’s airports—Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky—which limited flights for about four hours before resuming normal schedules at 0330 GMT, as reported by Russia’s aviation watchdog. Preliminary reports indicated no injuries or damage from the attacks in Moscow, Bryansk, or other affected regions.

Additionally, Russia's RIA state news agency reported that two drones were destroyed over the Tula region, north of Moscow. The governor of Rostov region confirmed that Russian air defenses had intercepted a Ukrainian missile, with no injuries reported. The Russian defense ministry did not address these incidents in its official statement, while Ukraine claimed responsibility for targeting an S-300 anti-aircraft missile system in Rostov.

This drone attack on Moscow is comparable to an earlier May 2023 incident, when at least eight drones were downed over the capital—a strike Putin had condemned as a Ukrainian attempt to intimidate and provoke Russia.

In Kursk, Russian war bloggers reported ongoing intense clashes along the front lines, where Ukraine has reportedly reclaimed at least 450 square kilometers of Russian-held territory.

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