Moscow hit by largest drone attack since start of Ukraine war

By Ezekiel David

Moscow faced its most significant drone assault since the Ukraine war began, with at least 11 drones targeting the Russian capital early Wednesday.

According to early assessments, Russian air defences successfully eliminated every drone, preventing damage or deaths. The situation has dramatically escalated since this episode, which goes beyond the fierce ground combat in eastern Ukraine.

The attack follows Ukraine’s recent deployment of troops into Russia’s Kursk region, further fueling tensions. While Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russian infrastructure with drones, attacks on Moscow, a city of over 21 million, have been less frequent.

Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed the scale of the attack, stating on Telegram, ‘This is one of the largest attempts to attack Moscow using drones ever.’ He credited the city’s ‘layered defence’ for successfully repelling the assault.

The Russian Defence Ministry reported intercepting a total of 45 drones across various regions, including Bryansk, Belgorod, Kaluga, and Kursk. Despite the attacks, daily life in central Moscow appeared to continue uninterrupted, with businesses remaining open and President Putin hosting a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

Footage circulating online, yet to be verified, allegedly shows drones being shot down over the Moscow region. The city’s airports temporarily restricted flights before resuming normal operations.

The drone attack is reminiscent of one that happened in May 2023, in which Moscow was targeted by at least eight drones. In the meantime, there is still intense combat in the Kursk region, where Ukraine has gained ground and the battle has significantly escalated.

(Source: Reuters)