Russian Air Defenses Down Dozens of Ukrainian Drones Near Moscow as Strikes Kill One and Injure Five in Bryansk Region
Moscow, Russia — Russian officials reported on Monday that Ukraine launched a major drone assault targeting Moscow and several other regions, marking one of the largest aerial attacks since the war began. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, 193 Ukrainian drones were destroyed overnight, including 34 heading toward Moscow.
The drone attacks prompted temporary closures at Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports, as air defense systems scrambled to intercept the incoming aircraft. Although no major damage was reported in the capital, officials said such measures were necessary “for safety reasons.”
In Russia’s Bryansk region, which borders Ukraine, a Ukrainian drone struck a minibus, killing the driver and injuring five passengers, according to regional governor Alexander Bogomaz.
The ministry said 47 drones were intercepted over Bryansk alone, while others were destroyed across multiple regions.
Nearly four years into the deadliest European conflict since World War II, both sides have intensified their drone warfare campaigns. Russia continues to target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, while Kyiv has focused on disrupting Russian oil refineries—a key source of funding for Moscow’s war effort.
While Ukraine has not commented on the latest attacks, it has previously stated that such operations aim to destroy infrastructure used to sustain Russia’s military campaign. Both nations deny deliberately targeting civilians, though thousands have been killed, the majority of them Ukrainians.