Ukraine struck the Moscow region on Tuesday in its biggest drone attack so far on the Russian capital, killing at least one woman and wrecking dozens of homes.
Diversion Of Flights
Three of Moscow’s four airports were closed for more than six hours and almost 50 flights were diverted.
Russia Also Destroyed Ukrainian Attack Drones
Russia, the world’s biggest nuclear power, said it had destroyed at least 20 Ukrainian attack drones as they swarmed over the Moscow region.
This region has a population of more than 21 million.
One Person Killed
Russian authorities said that at least one person was killed near Moscow.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the drone attack was another reminder of the real nature of Ukraine’s political leadership, which comprised Russia’s enemies.
Nature Of The Kyiv Regime
“The Kyiv regime continues to demonstrate its nature. They are our enemies and we must continue the special military operation to protect ourselves from such actions,” he said.
Kyiv Holds Russia Responsible For Overnight Attack
Kyiv said Russia, which sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, had attacked it overnight with 46 drones, of which 38 were destroyed.
Casualties And Damage Due To Drone Attacks On Russia
The drone attacks on Russia damaged at high-rise apartment buildings in the Ramenskoye district of the Moscow region, setting flats on fire, residents told Reuters.
Eye-Witness Accounts
Moscow regional governor Andrei Vorobyov said that a 46-year-old woman was killed and three people were wounded in Ramenskoye.
Residents said they woke up to blasts and fire.
“I looked at the window and saw a ball of fire,” Alexander Li, a resident of the district told Reuters.
Georgy, a resident who declined to give his surname, said he heard a drone buzzing outside his building in the early hours.
“I drew back the curtain and it hit the building right before my eyes, I saw it all,” he said. “I took my family and we ran outside.”
Population Of Ramenskoye district
The Ramenskoye district, some 50 km (31 miles) southeast of the Kremlin, has a population of around a quarter of a million people, according to official data.
Russia’s defence ministry reported 70 drone attacks over Russia’s Bryansk region and tens more over other regions.
There was no damage or casualties reported there.
As Russia advances in eastern Ukraine, Kyiv has taken the war to Russia with a cross-border attack into Russia’s western Kursk region that began on August 6 and by carrying out increasingly large drone attacks deep into Russian territory.
Drone War
The war has largely been a grinding artillery and drone war along the 1,000 km (620 mile) heavily fortified front line in southern and eastern Ukraine involving hundreds of thousands of soldiers.
Moscow and Kyiv have both sought to buy and develop new drones and deploy them in innovative ways.
They also seek new ways to destroy them – from using shotguns to advanced electronic jamming system.
Use Of Cheap Commercial Drones
Both sides have turned cheap commercial drones into deadly weapons while ramping up their own production and assembly to attack targets including tanks and energy infrastructure such as refineries and airfields.
Putin Says Ukrainian Drone Attacks on Civilian Infrastructure Is ‘ Terrorism.’
Russian President Vladimir Putin, has sought to insulate Moscow from the grinding rigours of the war.
He has described Ukrainian drone attacks that target civilian infrastructure such as nuclear power plants “terrorism” and has vowed a response.
Impact Of Russian Attack On Ukraine
Russia itself has hit Ukraine with thousands of missiles and drones in the last two-and-a-half years.
Russia killed thousands of civilians in Ukraine.
It also wrecked much of the country’s energy system and damaged commercial and residential properties across the country.
Ukraine Defends its Right To Strike Back
Ukraine says it has a right to strike back deep into Russia.
Kyiv’s Western backers have said they do not want a direct confrontation between Russia and the U.S.-led NATO military alliance.
There was no immediate comment from Ukraine about Tuesday’s attacks.
Both sides deny targeting civilians.
Tuesday’s attack follows drone attacks Ukraine launched in early September chiefly targeting Russia’s energy and power facilities.
Drone Wreckage Falls On A Fuel And Energy facility
Authorities in the Tula region, which neighbours the Moscow region to its north, said drone wreckage had fallen onto a fuel and energy facility.
The wreckage did not affect the “technological process” of the facility.
(With Inputs From Reuters)
