Ukraine launched a significant drone attack on Moscow on Wednesday, involving at least 11 drones, all of which were shot down by Russian air defenses. This marks one of the largest drone assaults on the Russian capital since the war in Ukraine began in February 2022.
The conflict, which has primarily been a battle of artillery and drones across eastern Ukraine, escalated further on August 6 when Ukraine sent thousands of troops into Russia’s western Kursk region. Ukraine has also intensified its drone attacks on Russia’s refineries and airfields, although major strikes on the densely populated Moscow region have been less frequent.
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Russia’s defense ministry reported the destruction of 45 drones across Russian territory, including 11 over Moscow, 23 over Bryansk, six over Belgorod, three over Kaluga, and two over Kursk. Some drones were downed in Podolsk, a city 38 km south of the Kremlin.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that the city’s layered defense system successfully repelled all the drone attacks, calling it one of the largest attempts to target Moscow. Despite the attacks, life in Moscow continued as usual, with cafes, restaurants, and shops remaining busy, while President Vladimir Putin met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Kremlin.
In eastern Ukraine, Russia continues to advance, controlling about 18% of the territory, while also fending off Ukraine’s incursions into the Kursk region. The drone attack on Moscow is comparable to a May 2023 assault, which involved at least eight drones and was described by Putin as a Ukrainian attempt to provoke Russia.
Russian media showed unverified footage of drones being shot down over Moscow, and while the city’s airports temporarily restricted flights, normal operations resumed within hours. No injuries or damages were reported from the attacks on Moscow or Bryansk.
Meanwhile, in the Rostov region, a Ukraine-launched missile was destroyed by Russian air defenses. Ukraine’s military claimed it had struck an S-300 anti-aircraft missile system in Rostov, though these reports have not been independently verified. The ongoing battles in the Kursk region have seen Ukraine recapture at least 450 square kilometers of Russian territory.
