Russian officials reported the interception of 144 Ukrainian drones across the country overnight, following a series of drone attacks that resulted in one fatality, damage to residential buildings, and flight disruptions in Moscow.
Andrei Vorobyov, the governor of Moscow, confirmed that several residential units in two high-rise towers in Ramenskoye caught fire. The incident led to the tragic death of a 46-year-old woman, while three others sustained injuries. In total, 43 residents were evacuated to temporary shelters for safety.
The Russian defense ministry indicated that half of the intercepted drones were targeted in the western Bryansk region, with additional interceptions occurring over Moscow and the Kursk region. Reports from state media revealed that the drone strikes prompted the closure of four airports in Moscow, leading to the suspension of over 30 domestic and international flights. The Russian aviation authority announced later that operations had resumed at Domodedovo, Zhukovsky, and Vnukovo airports.
In a counter-response, the Ukrainian Air Force claimed to have downed 38 of the 46 Shahed-type attack drones launched by Russia across various regions, including Kyiv, Odesa, and Kharkiv. Alongside the drone launches, Russia was reported to have fired an Iskander-M ballistic missile and a Kh-31 air-to-surface missile during the conflict.
Both Ukraine and Russia have engaged in frequent overnight drone assaults on each other’s territories, with the latest surge of attacks occurring amidst claims by Moscow of territorial gains in eastern Ukraine. Over the weekend, Russia announced the takeover of the village of Novohrodivka, situated just 10 kilometers from the strategic town of Pokrovsk. While Kyiv has not officially confirmed this development, sources suggest that Ukrainian forces may have retreated from the area.
This month alone, Russia has executed a series of severe strikes on cities such as Lviv, Poltava, and Kharkiv. The situation has escalated following Ukraine’s offensive into the Kursk region last month, intensifying tensions between the two nations.
