On Tuesday, Ukraine executed its most significant drone attack on the Moscow region to date, resulting in at least one fatality and extensive damage. The attack, which struck the Ramenskoye district southeast of Moscow, led to the destruction of homes, fires in high-rise buildings, and the diversion of nearly 50 flights from Moscow’s airports.
Russian authorities reported that they intercepted at least 20 Ukrainian drones over the Moscow region, part of a larger total of 124 drones downed across eight regions. Despite the defensive efforts, one woman was killed and three others were injured in the Ramenskoye district, according to Moscow regional governor Andrei Vorobyov. Residents described waking to explosions and flames, with one eyewitness recounting seeing a drone hit his building directly.
In retaliation, Russia claimed it had downed 46 Ukrainian drones overnight, asserting that 38 of these were destroyed before reaching their targets. The ongoing conflict, which has seen a mix of artillery and drone warfare along the heavily fortified front line in southern and eastern Ukraine, has spurred both sides to enhance their drone capabilities.
The attack on Tuesday underscores the escalating intensity of the conflict, as Ukraine targets deeper into Russian territory. Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced the drone strikes as acts of “terrorism,” aimed at civilian infrastructure, and pledged a strong response. Moscow’s airports experienced significant disruptions, with three of the four major airports closed for over six hours.
This latest escalation follows previous Ukrainian drone attacks aimed at Russian energy and power facilities, reflecting the broader strategic shifts in the conflict. Both sides deny deliberately targeting civilians, while international concerns about the war’s impact continue to grow.