By Ukrainian forces launched one of the largest drone attacks on Moscow since the beginning of the conflict, Russian officials reported Wednesday. The assault marks a significant escalation in the ongoing war between the two nations.
According to Russia’s defense ministry, a total of 45 drones were destroyed over Russian territory, with 11 intercepted over the Moscow region alone. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin described the incident as “one of the largest attempts to attack Moscow using drones ever.”
The attack prompted temporary closures of Moscow’s major airports — Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky — for approximately four hours, disrupting air traffic in the capital region. Operations resumed at 0330 GMT, according to Russia’s aviation watchdog.
Sobyanin reported that some drones were destroyed over Podolsk, a city approximately 38 kilometers (24 miles) south of the Kremlin. Despite the scale of the attack, preliminary reports indicate no injuries or significant damage in the Moscow region.
The drone assault comes as the conflict in Ukraine continues to evolve. On August 6, Ukraine launched a significant incursion into Russia’s western Kursk region, marking the largest foreign attack on Russian soil since World War II. Russian war bloggers report ongoing intense battles along the front in Kursk, where Ukraine has reportedly captured at least 450 square kilometers (175 square miles) of territory.
In addition to the Moscow region, Russian officials reported intercepting drones in several other areas, including the Bryansk, Belgorod, Kaluga, and Kursk regions. The governor of the Rostov region in southwestern Russia also reported the destruction of a Ukraine-launched missile, though this was not confirmed in the defense ministry’s statement.
This attack represents a significant escalation in Ukraine’s drone warfare strategy, which has previously targeted Russian refineries and airfields. The assault on the Moscow region, home to over 21 million people, demonstrates Ukraine’s capacity to strike deep within Russian territory.
The conflict, which began in February 2022, has largely been characterized by artillery exchanges and drone warfare across eastern Ukraine. However, recent developments, including the Kursk incursion and this large-scale drone attack, suggest a potential shift in tactics.
Russian media circulated unverified footage showing drones flying over the Moscow region at dawn before being shot down by air defenses. The Russian military’s ability to intercept such a large number of drones highlights the sophistication of Moscow’s air defense systems.
As the conflict enters its 18th month, both sides continue to seek tactical advantages. Ukraine’s ability to launch such a significant attack on the Russian capital may have strategic implications, potentially affecting morale and demonstrating vulnerabilities in Russian defenses.
International observers and diplomats are closely monitoring these developments, as they may impact ongoing peace negotiations and the overall trajectory of the conflict. The attack on Moscow, coupled with Ukraine’s advances in Kursk, underscores the war’s potential to escalate and spread beyond the initial combat zones in eastern Ukraine.
