Officials Report That Ukrainian Drones Attack 9 Russian Regions, Including Moscow
Following the attack, three airports in Moscow temporarily suspended operations and rerouted flights, but resumed normal operations by 8 a.m. local time.
In the early hours of September 10, Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack on western Russia, including Moscow, resulting in at least one fatality and substantial material damage, according to Russian officials.
Russia's defense ministry reported that during the attack, air-defense systems intercepted and destroyed 144 Ukrainian drones.
The drones targeted nine western regions of Russia, including 20 in the Moscow region alone. Despite these efforts, some drones managed to evade the defenses.
In the Moscow suburb of Ramenskoye, residential buildings were hit, causing fires in several apartments. Regional governor Andrei Vorobyov confirmed that a 46-year-old woman was killed and three others were injured.
Social media footage depicted flames erupting from a high-rise building. Local resident Alexander Li described seeing a "ball of fire" and the shockwave blowing out windows.
Residents in the affected area have been moved to temporary shelters.
Following the attack, three airports in Moscow temporarily suspended operations and rerouted flights, but resumed normal operations by 8 a.m. local time.
Russian authorities also reported intercepted drones over Bryansk, Kursk, Tula, Belgorod, Kaluga, Voronezh, Lipetsk, and Oryol regions, with Tula experiencing minor damage from falling debris hitting an energy facility.
No significant damage was reported in the other regions.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova suggested that Ukraine's drone attack was a response to its weakening battlefield position, despite substantial Western support.
She characterized the attack as a form of revenge.
In recent weeks, Russian forces have made significant advances in eastern Ukraine, particularly in Donetsk, and are close to capturing the town of Pokrovsk. Kyiv has not yet commented on the September 10 drone attack.
Earlier, Ukrainian officials reported injuries from Russian drone and missile strikes across Ukraine.
On September 1, Ukraine launched over 150 drones on various targets in western Russia, causing limited damage but no casualties.
Since Russia's 2022 invasion and annexation of parts of Ukraine, Kyiv, supported by Western allies, has vowed to continue fighting until all lost territories are reclaimed.
Last week, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin rejected Ukraine’s request to use Western-supplied munitions for deep strikes into Russian territory, noting the vast size of Russia and the range of Ukrainian capabilities.
