Moscow, Russia: In an unprecedented event, Moscow faced a significant drone onslaught overnight, with Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) allegedly responsible for the orchestrated attack.
The city’s mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, reported that the Russian capital successfully intercepted and downed multiple drones in various suburbs.
The targeted areas included:
- The Naro-Fominsk region.
- Situated 50 km outside Moscow’s outer transport ring and Odintsovo in the west.
- Podolsk in the south.
- Ramensko in the southeast.
The Governor of the Moscow region confirmed property damage but assured there were no casualties reported.
Sobyanin, addressing the media, highlighted that the drones appeared to have originated from the southwest, initially detected in Bryansk, Kaluga, and Tula regions. Several of these UAVs were reportedly intercepted in these areas.
During the onslaught, Moscow’s Vnukovo and Domodedovo airports experienced temporary closures as a precautionary measure. The mayor emphasized that the threat was neutralized, with a total of 11 UAVs shot down overnight.
Additionally, Russian Air Defense Forces intercepted and eliminated nine more drones during the morning, spanning the regions of Moscow, Tula, Kaluga, and Bryansk.
While the governor of the Moscow region confirmed property damage, the absence of casualties underscored the success of the defence efforts. The drones’ trajectory and origin point to a coordinated effort allegedly orchestrated by Ukrainian forces.
Over Tula, two UAVs were shot down, one of which crashed into a residential building. The ensuing explosion damaged a balcony on the 12th floor and shattered several windows, emphasizing the potential threat posed by such attacks.
The Ukrainian government has not officially claimed responsibility for the drone assault. Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have escalated in recent months, primarily centred around geopolitical issues, making the attribution of the attack plausible.
The incident underscores the evolving nature of modern warfare, with non-state actors employing sophisticated technologies to carry out attacks. It also raises questions about the preparedness of major urban centres for unconventional threats.
Moscow remains vigilant as investigations into the origin and motives behind the drone attack unfold. The international community watches closely as geopolitical tensions in the region continue to influence strategic moves and unconventional methods of engagement.