On Tuesday, Ukraine launched its largest drone attack on the Moscow region to date, resulting in significant disruptions and damage. The strike led to the death of at least one woman, destruction in numerous homes, and caused around 50 flights to be redirected from the capital’s airports.
Russian defense forces reported intercepting at least 20 Ukrainian attack drones over the densely populated Moscow region, home to over 21 million people. Additionally, 124 drones were destroyed over eight other Russian regions. The attack’s intensity forced the temporary closure of three out of four major airports in Moscow, disrupting nearly 50 flights.
The offensive came as a response to an ongoing conflict that escalated when Russia deployed tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022. According to Kyiv, Russia had conducted an overnight drone assault involving 46 drones, 38 of which Ukrainian forces claimed to have intercepted.
The drones targeted residential areas within the Ramenskoye district of the Moscow region, about 50 km southeast of the Kremlin. The attack damaged high-rise apartment buildings, igniting fires in several flats. Local residents recounted their terrifying experiences to Reuters. Alexander Li described seeing a “ball of fire” that shattered his windows due to the blast’s shockwave. Another local, Georgy, who withheld his last name for safety reasons, witnessed a drone hitting his building. “I drew back the curtain and it hit the building right before my eyes, I saw it all,” he reported, adding that he quickly evacuated with his family.
The governor of the Moscow region, Andrei Vorobyov, confirmed that the attacks in Ramenskoye resulted in one fatality and three injuries. While the Ramenskoye district bore the brunt of the damage, the Russian defense ministry noted that over 70 additional drones were downed in the Bryansk region, with dozens more intercepted over various other regions, thankfully without further reported damages or casualties.