In a significant escalation of hostilities, Russian officials reported the downing of 144 Ukrainian drones overnight, resulting in the death of a woman and setting residential buildings ablaze across the country. The drone attacks also led to flight disruptions in Moscow.
The governor of Moscow, Andrei Vorobyov, confirmed that several apartments in two high-rise buildings in Ramenskoye, within the Moscow region, caught fire. Tragically, a 46-year-old woman lost her life, and three others sustained injuries. Authorities evacuated 43 residents to temporary shelters.
The Ukrainian government has yet to comment on the incident. However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that the attacks underscored Ukraine’s hostility towards Russia and justified the continuation of Russia’s military operations. “We must continue the military operation to protect ourselves from such actions by this regime,” Peskov declared during a press briefing.
Russia’s defense ministry detailed that half of the intercepted drones were in the western Bryansk region, with 20 targeting Moscow and 14 in the Kursk region. The strikes led to the temporary closure of four airports in Moscow, with over 30 domestic and international flights being suspended. By Tuesday morning, Rosaviatsia, Russia’s aviation authority, confirmed the resumption of operations at three airports—Domodedovo, Zhukovsky, and Vnukovo.
Meanwhile, Russia reported capturing at least three villages in the Donetsk region, including the town of Krasnohorivka. The Ukrainian Air Force, on the other hand, claimed to have downed 38 out of 46 Shahed-type drones launched by Russia across several regions, including Kyiv, Odesa, and Kherson. Additionally, Russia fired an Iskander-M ballistic missile and a Kh-31 air-to-surface missile.
This latest wave of drone strikes marks a continuation of the ongoing tit-for-tat drone attacks between Ukraine and Russia. Moscow’s gains in eastern Ukraine, particularly the capture of Memryk and Novohrodivka, have further intensified the conflict, with Ukrainian forces reportedly retreating from the latter.
As the conflict rages on, Russia has stepped up its retaliatory strikes, especially after Kyiv’s recent offensive into Russia’s Kursk region.
