Ukraine unleashed a major drone assault on Russia overnight, with more than 140 drones targeting various regions of the country. The Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed the attack on Tuesday, stating that air defences were activated across multiple areas, including Moscow, Bryansk, Kursk, and Tula. The assault led to the death of a woman near Moscow, significant disruptions at major airports, and damage to residential buildings.
The Russian military reported it had successfully shot down 144 Ukrainian drones during the attack, with 72 intercepted. As a result, four key airports servicing Moscow, including Domodedovo and Sheremetyevo, experienced widespread cancellations and delays on Tuesday morning, according to state media.
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin confirmed that debris from a downed drone caused a fire on the runway at Zhukovsky airfield, further exacerbating disruptions in the capital. Additionally, a major road leading to Moscow was partially closed due to the attacks.
Moscow regional governor Andrey Vorobyov stated that a 46-year-old woman was killed, and several others were injured when a drone damaged two high-rise apartment buildings in the Ramenskoye district, located around 30 miles southeast of central Moscow. Videos circulating on social media showed flames engulfing the windows of the residential complex, with significant damage reported to dozens of flats.
One local resident, Alexander Li, described the harrowing experience: “I looked out the window and saw a ball of fire. The window got blown out by the shockwave.”
The attack marks one of the largest drone offensives launched against Russia since the beginning of the conflict. It targeted multiple regions, with officials reporting UAVs over Bryansk, Moscow, Kursk, Tula, and several other areas.