Moscow targeted as Ukraine and Russia trade biggest drone attacks

On Sunday, 34 drones were reportedly shot down over the Moscow region, marking the largest drone strike in the capital's vicinity since the conflict began, according to the Ministry of Defense.

Details of the attack

The drones were intercepted in the areas around the towns of Ramenskoye, Domodedovo and Kolomna, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported. In his updates, he stated that 32 drones were downed, and none made it to the capital. His first post about the attack appeared at 08:37.

Later, the Ministry of Defense clarified that the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched a total of 84 long-range drones targeting several regions. All aerial targets were either shot down or suppressed by electronic warfare, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense. 

In the Ramensky district of the Moscow region, 34 drones were reportedly destroyed and suppressed. As a result of the debris falling, four houses caught fire in three settlements, and five people were injured, states the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Due to the air attacks, operations at Moscow's airports, including Domodedovo, Zhukovsky and Sheremetyevo, were temporarily halted.

Governors of Belgorod, Kaluga and Oryol regions also reported drone attacks on the same day.

Previous attacks

The previous major drone attack on the Moscow region occurred on September 10, when 20 drones were downed, and one person was killed, with eight others injured. Earlier, on September 1, Russia's largest aerial assault since the beginning of the conflict took place, with nine drones intercepted over Moscow and its region. On August 21, the Ministry of Defense reported the downing of 11 drones over the Moscow region.

Ukraine began drone strikes on the Moscow region in May 2023, with the first significant attack taking place on May 3, when drones targeted the Kremlin. A later attack on May 30 involved approximately 25 drones hitting multiple high-rise buildings in Moscow, forcing temporary evacuations.

Russia carries out largest drone attack on Ukraine

On November 10, Ukrainian forces faced a record number of Russian drone attacks, with 145 drones launched. Ukrainian Air Force reports indicate that 62 drones were shot down over several regions, including Odesa, Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Poltava. Meanwhile, 67 drones were lost, and 10 drones flew out of Ukrainian airspace toward Moldova, Belarus, and Russia.

In Odesa, two people were injured, and two private homes were destroyed, with four more damaged. Civilian infrastructure, including a market, gas station, garages, and vehicles, was also affected.