In one of its largest drone offensives to date, Ukraine struck Moscow and parts of western Russia on Tuesday, killing at least one woman, damaging dozens of homes, and forcing the temporary closure of major airports in the capital, according to Russian officials. The attack marks an escalation in the conflict as Ukraine continues its bold strategy of targeting Russian territory.
Russian authorities said that at least 20 drones were intercepted over Moscow, home to more than 21 million people, while an additional 124 drones were shot down across eight other regions. Three of Moscow’s four airports were shut down to air traffic following the attack, and a major road leading into the capital was partially closed, Russia’s aviation authority Rosaviatsia reported.
In the Ramenskoye district, located approximately 50 kilometres southeast of the Kremlin, two high-rise apartment buildings were hit, causing fires and severe damage. Moscow Governor Andrei Vorobyov confirmed the death of a 46-year-old woman and injuries to three others in the district. He also stated that 43 residents were evacuated to temporary shelters. Social media footage captured the devastation, with flames shooting from the windows of a multi-story residential building and reports of widespread damage to dozens of apartments.
“I looked out the window and saw a ball of fire,” said Alexander Li, a resident of the district. “The shockwave blew out our windows.”
Elsewhere, over 70 drones were downed in Russia’s Bryansk region, and additional drones were intercepted in other areas, according to Russia’s defence ministry. While no casualties were reported in these regions, the scale of the drone offensive reflects Ukraine’s expanding capability to strike deep within Russian territory.
As Russia continues its offensive in eastern Ukraine, Kyiv has been intensifying its drone attacks, notably targeting Russia’s western regions like Kursk. In August, Ukraine launched an attack in that region, followed by a series of drone assaults on Russian energy, military, and transport infrastructure. Tuesday’s attack follows a similar wave of Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian energy facilities in early September.
Russia has condemned the drone strikes as acts of “terrorism,” claiming they target civilian infrastructure. Ukraine, meanwhile, asserts its right to retaliate within Russian territory, citing Russia’s invasion in 2022. However, Ukraine has not publicly commented on the recent attacks. Both sides have denied intentionally targeting civilians, though casualties on both sides have occurred during the conflict.
Ukraine’s drone industry has been growing rapidly, fueling its ability to launch these high-profile strikes. Meanwhile, Russia, as the world’s second-largest oil exporter, faces increasing disruption to its energy infrastructure.
In the Tula region, just north of Moscow, local authorities reported that drone wreckage fell onto a fuel and energy facility. However, they assured that the “technological process” of the facility remained unaffected.