In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict, Ukraine launched its largest drone attack on Moscow to date on Tuesday, resulting in the death of at least one woman and causing substantial damage to residential buildings. The attack prompted the closure of key airports and the diversion of numerous flights in the Russian capital.
Video: Ukrainian drone hits multi-story building in the Moscow region. Credit: Reuters
Russian authorities reported that they successfully intercepted at least 20 Ukrainian attack drones in the Moscow region, which is home to over 21 million people. Additionally, 124 more drones were reportedly destroyed across eight other regions of Russia.
The attack had a severe impact on Moscow's air traffic, with three of the city's four airports closing for more than six hours and nearly 50 flights being diverted. The closures caused significant disruptions to both domestic and international travel.
In the Ramenskoye district of the Moscow region, approximately 31 miles southeast of the Kremlin, residents reported waking up to explosions and fires. Alexander Li, a local resident, told Reuters, "I looked at the window and saw a ball of fire. The window got blown out by the shockwave."
Moscow regional governor Andrei Vorobyov confirmed that a 46-year-old woman was killed and three others were wounded in the Ramenskoye district. The attack damaged multiple high-rise apartment buildings, setting several flats on fire.
In response to the Ukrainian assault, Russia reported that it had intercepted more than 70 drones over its Bryansk region and dozens more across other regions. However, no casualties or damage were reported in these areas.
The Russian defense ministry characterized the drone attacks as "terrorism," accusing Ukraine of targeting civilian infrastructure. President Vladimir Putin has vowed to respond to these attacks, which have brought the war closer to the Russian capital than ever before.
Meanwhile, Ukraine reported that Russia had launched its own drone attack overnight, sending 46 drones into Ukrainian territory. Ukrainian forces claimed to have destroyed 38 of these drones.
This latest escalation comes as both sides continue to engage in a war that has largely been characterized by artillery exchanges and drone warfare along a 620-mile heavily fortified front line in southern and eastern Ukraine. Both Russia and Ukraine have been intensifying their efforts to develop and deploy drones as effective weapons in the conflict.
The attack on Moscow follows recent Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russian energy and power facilities in early September. As the conflict continues to evolve, both sides are increasingly turning to drone technology as a means of striking deep into enemy territory.
While Moscow and other major Russian cities have largely been insulated from the direct impacts of the war until now, Tuesday's attack signals a significant shift in Ukraine's strategy, bringing the conflict closer to the heart of Russia's power center.
