In a dramatic escalation of the conflict, Ukraine launched one of its most extensive drone attacks to date, targeting Moscow and other western regions of Russia on Tuesday. The attacks resulted in the death of at least one woman, damaged dozens of homes, and caused significant disruptions to air traffic in the Russian capital.
Moscow’s authorities confirmed that multiple drones were launched towards the city, with at least 20 being destroyed over the Moscow region, which boasts a population exceeding 21 million. Additionally, 124 more drones were reportedly shot down over eight other regions. The attacks forced the closure of three of Moscow’s four main airports, with the Russian aviation authority Rosaviatsia halting air traffic. A major road leading to the capital was also partially closed.
The drone attacks caused significant damage to several buildings, including two high-rise apartment buildings in the Ramenskoye district of the Moscow region. The impact of the drones set multiple apartments ablaze, forcing the evacuation of 43 residents to temporary shelters.
Andrei Vorobyov, Moscow’s governor, confirmed that a 46-year-old woman lost her life in the Ramenskoye attack, while three others sustained injuries. Videos circulating on social media captured the fiery aftermath, showing flames engulfing windows of a multi-storey residential building.
One resident, Alexander Li, described witnessing the attack, stating, “I looked at the window and saw a ball of fire. The window got blown out by the shockwave.” The Ramenskoye district, located approximately 50 kilometers southeast of the Kremlin, is home to nearly 250,000 residents.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that over 70 drones were also downed over the Bryansk region, with additional drones being intercepted in other regions. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties or damage in these areas.
Amidst Russia’s ongoing military advances in eastern Ukraine, Kyiv has intensified its efforts to take the fight to Russian soil. This recent attack follows a previous drone strike on Russia’s western Kursk region on August 6th, as well as a growing number of drone attacks deep into Russian territory.
Moscow has condemned these attacks as acts of “terrorism” targeting civilian infrastructure. Ukraine, however, maintains that it has a right to retaliate against Russian aggression, which began with the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Despite Ukraine’s stance, its Western allies have repeatedly stressed their desire to avoid an escalation of the conflict into a direct confrontation between Russia and the NATO alliance.
While Ukraine has yet to publicly comment on the latest drone attack, both sides have consistently denied targeting civilian populations. However, the tragic reality is that civilian casualties have been reported on both sides of the conflict.
The Ukrainian drone industry has experienced a rapid rise in recent times, and Kyiv has been increasingly employing drone attacks to target Russian energy, military, and transportation infrastructure. Russia, the world’s second largest oil exporter, has become a primary target of these drone attacks.
Tuesday’s attack is the latest in a series of drone assaults that began in early September, with Ukraine primarily targeting Russian energy and power facilities. Authorities in the Tula region, situated north of the Moscow region, reported that drone wreckage fell onto a fuel and energy facility, though they assured that the facility’s operations were not impacted.
The scale and audacity of Ukraine’s recent drone attacks serve as a stark reminder of the volatile and unpredictable nature of the ongoing conflict. The attacks have further raised concerns about potential escalation and the potential for a wider conflict.
