Ukrainian forces struck nine regions inside Russia with over 140 drones overnight, marking one of Kyiv’s largest attacks of the war so far, Moscow said.
The Russian defense ministry said on Tuesday that its air defenses destroyed and intercepted 144 Ukrainian drones—72 over the Bryansk region; 20 over the Moscow region; 14 over the Kursk region; 13 over the Tula region; eight over the Belgorod region; seven over the Kaluga region; five over the Voronezh region; four over the Lipetsk region; and one over the Oryol region.
Newsweek has been unable to verify these figures and contacted Russia’s defense ministry for additional comment by email.
Russian media outlets, including RBC, described the attack as “one of the most massive of all time.”
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Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said at least 14 drones targeting the capital were shot down in the districts of Ramenskoye, Podolsk, Domodedovo, Lyubertsy and Kolomna. According to state-run news agency Tass, a 46-year-old woman was killed in Ramenskoye, and several others were wounded.
Moscow’s Zhukovsky, Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo and Vnukovo airports were closed amid the drone attack, local media reported.
Footage shared by the ASTRA Telegram channel, a project run by independent Russian journalists, appeared to show smoke near Zhukovsky International Airport.
There were no reports of casualties in the other Russian regions targeted by Ukrainian drones.
The attacks come after Ukraine struck eight regions in Russia on August 14 with drones and missiles. Pro-war Telegram channel Fighterbomber, which is believed to be affiliated with the Russian Air Force, said three Russian military airfields were targeted by Ukraine in the barrage.
Russian air bases have been targeted by Ukraine multiple times throughout the war, which began in February 2022. Kyiv has said that Russian military bases are legitimate targets in the conflict, and its forces regularly attack them using long-range drones.
Attacks on Russian soil are typically claimed by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR).
Ukraine’s Air Force said on Tuesday that Russian forces had launched two missiles and 46 Shahed attack drones overnight.
“Russian occupiers launched an attack with an Iskander-M ballistic missile from occupied Crimea, a Kh-31P anti-radar missile from the airspace over the Black Sea and 46 Shahed drones (launched from Kursk and Yeisk in Russia). As a result of combat efforts, 38 Shahed drones were downed,” the air force said on Telegram.
“In addition, three drones left Ukraine-controlled airspace: one headed towards Russia and two towards occupied Luhansk Oblast. Another three enemy drones disappeared from radar on Ukrainian territory (presumably falling due to electronic warfare systems interference).”
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