Ukraine launched one of the largest ever drone attacks on Moscow on Wednesday, the city’s mayor said.
Russian Air Defence Units Destroy Drones
Russian air defence units destroyed at least 10 drones flying towards the capital.
Some of the drones were destroyed over the city of Podolsk, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said.
The city in the Moscow region is some 38 kms (24 miles) south of the Kremlin.
“The air defence systems of the defence ministry continue to repel enemy UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles) attacks,” Sobyanin said on the Telegram messaging app at 4:43 a.m. (0143 GMT).
One Of The Largest Attempts To Attack Moscow
“This is one of the largest attempts to attack Moscow using drones ever. We continue to monitor the situation.”
He said that according to preliminary information, there were no injuries or damage in the aftermath of the attacks.
Ukraine has often launched one or two drones targeting Moscow in recent months, causing no substantial damage.
The Wednesday attack, however, seems larger than May 2023 attack when at least eight drones were destroyed over the capital in an attack President Vladimir Putin said was Kyiv’s attempt to scare and provoke Russia.
Russian officials rarely disclose the full size of the attacks, reporting only drones that its air defence units destroy.
Ukraine And Russia Rarely Disclose Full Size Of The Attacks
Both Ukraine and Russia also rarely disclose the full extent of the damage their attacks inflict.
They make a disclosure only in case of death of civilians or damage to residential or civilian infrastructure.
The Wednesday attack on Moscow was part of a broader Ukraine’s drone attack on Russia.
Russian officials said that air defence system also destroyed 18 drones over the border Bryansk region and separate drones and missiles over other regions
Alexander Bogomaz, the governor of the region said that here were no casualties or damage reported in the aftermath of attack on the border Bryansk region in Russia’s southwest.
Two Drones Destroyed In Tula Region
Russia’s RIA state news agency reported also that two drones were destroyed over the Tula region, which borders the Moscow region to its north.
Separately, Vasily Golubev, governor of the Rostov region in Russia’s southwest, said that air defence forces destroyed a Ukraine-launched missile over the region, with no injuries reported.
Reuters could not independently verify the reports.
Ukraine gave no immediate comment.
Kyiv Has Stepped Up Air Attacks
In recent months, Kyiv has stepped up its air attacks on Russian territory, saying its aim is to destroy infrastructure key to Moscow’s war efforts.
It also says that its attacks are in response to Russia’s continued strikes on Ukrainian territory.
(With Inputs From Reuters)
