Russia's state news agency TASS reported that Russia downed most of the 613 drones launched towards Moscow overnight in a major attack on the capital, with Moscow's mayor saying 231 were destroyed on approach to the city.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Telegram that air defence forces destroyed 231 of the unmanned aerial vehicles on approach to the city, with the remainder neutralised on distant approaches between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.
The attack is the latest in a series of major drone assaults on the Moscow region, following a record attack in September during which air defence forces reported shooting down more than 1,600 drones.
In a separate development, Russia attacked Ukraine's Kharkiv, the country's second-biggest city, damaging an educational institution, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on Telegram.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The attack puts the Russian capital, far from the front lines, at the centre of the war's escalating drone strikes and tests the country's air defences at scale.
- The Kharkiv strike shows the war continues to inflict damage on Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure.
- The size of the assault, coming after September's record attack, points to an intensifying pattern of long-range drone warfare.
Background
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has produced frequent drone and missile attacks on both sides, with Moscow increasingly targeted by long-range strikes. The overnight attack follows a record assault in September, when Russian air defence forces reported shooting down more than 1,600 drones.
Key Perspectives
- Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin: says air defence forces destroyed 231 drones on approach to the city and neutralised the remainder on distant approaches.
- Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov: says a Russian attack damaged an educational institution in Kharkiv.
What to Watch
- Whether Russian authorities report any damage or casualties in the Moscow region from the overnight attack.
- Further details on the Kharkiv strike, including the extent of damage to the educational institution.
- Whether the pace of major drone attacks on Moscow continues after September's record assault.
Checked
8 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 8 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedRussia says 613 drones were launched towards Moscow in a major overnight attack.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Russia has downed most of the 613 drones launched towards Moscow overnight, in a major attack on the Russian capital, Russian state news agency TASS has reported.”
- SupportedMoscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said air defences destroyed 231 drones on approach to the city.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Telegram that air defence forces destroyed 231 of the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on approach to the city”
- SupportedThe remaining drones were neutralised on distant approaches between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “with the remainder neutralised on distant approaches between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.”
- SupportedTASS reported that Russia downed most of the 613 drones launched towards Moscow overnight.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Russia has downed most of the 613 drones launched towards Moscow overnight, in a major attack on the Russian capital, Russian state news agency TASS has reported.”
- SupportedThe attack was the latest in a series of major drone assaults targeting the Moscow region.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The attack marks the latest in a series of major drone assaults targeting the Moscow region”
- SupportedA record attack in September preceded it, during which air defence forces reported shooting down more than 1,600 drones.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “following a record attack in September during which air defence forces reported shooting down more than 1,600 drones.”
- SupportedRussia attacked Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-biggest city, damaging an educational institution.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Russia attacked Ukraine’s Kharkiv, the country’s second-biggest city, damaging an educational institution”
- SupportedKharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on Telegram that the educational institution was damaged.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “damaging an educational institution, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on Telegram.”