In a significant escalation, Ukraine launched its largest-ever drone attack on Moscow early Tuesday, resulting in the death of at least one person and causing fires across the Russian capital. The assault also forced the suspension of flights and train services, marking a serious disruption to the city’s daily operations. Russian authorities reported that 337 drones were launched, with 91 targeting the Moscow region alone.
Moscow’s mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, confirmed the scale of the attack, while Andrei Vorobyov, governor of the Moscow region, revealed that one person had died, and three others were injured. Several residential areas were affected, with homes damaged and residents evacuated. A train station in the Domodedovo district was also hit during the assault, adding to the widespread destruction.
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Russian aviation authorities responded by closing all four major airports in Moscow, with additional closures in the Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod regions. Meanwhile, Russian Telegram channels circulated videos showing the aftermath of the strikes, with fires reportedly caused by drone debris falling in residential areas.
This large-scale drone attack coincided with ongoing peace talks in Saudi Arabia between US and Ukrainian officials, as both sides seek to resolve the conflict that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Similar attacks have taken place during visits by high-ranking foreign delegations to Moscow, with Russian officials suggesting a pattern of coordination by Ukrainian forces.
Kyiv has consistently justified its strikes within Russian territory as retaliation for Russia’s relentless bombing campaign in Ukraine, targeting infrastructure critical to Moscow’s war efforts. The war, now in its third year, has resulted in thousands of casualties, with the majority being Ukrainian civilians.