Russian air defense units intercepted at least 67 Ukrainian drones heading towards Moscow on Monday, according to data published by Moscow's mayor, Sergei Sobyanin. The attack was part of a larger drone assault over the past two days.
Key Takeaways
Russian air defenses downed 67 Ukrainian drones heading towards Moscow on Monday. Over two days, approximately 250 drones were destroyed near Moscow with no reported casualties. Meanwhile, Russia has increased security for military officials after recent assassinations and accused Ukraine of threatening gas export routes.\n\n- Russian air defense units intercepted at least 67 Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow\n- Total of about 250 enemy UAVs destroyed over two days in the region\n- No reported casualties from drone attacks on Moscow\n- Russia to enhance security for high-ranking military officials after recent assassinations\n- Kremlin condemns Ukrainian attacks on Gazprom gas compressor stations
The initial tally reported by Sobyanin in the morning listed 38 drones intercepted. Later in the day, he updated the count to include an additional 29 drones downed starting at about 8 a.m. (0500 GMT). The Russian Defence Ministry also reported that air defense units had shot down 59 Ukrainian drones from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., including 13 targeting Moscow.
Over the past two days, air defense forces have destroyed about 250 enemy UAVs approaching Moscow and its surrounding areas. The war in Ukraine has highlighted the effectiveness of relatively cheap drones that can attack far-off targets at a fraction of the cost of a fighter jet.
Russia has been using artillery and drones against Ukraine, while Ukraine has struck deep inside Russia with sabotage groups and drones. Moscow's main airports imposed flight restrictions amid the weekend attack, though they were later lifted. There were no reported casualties from the drone attacks. Sobyanin thanked the Russian armed forces for their work.
In other developments, Russia announced it will step up protection for high-ranking military officials after a series of assassinations and attempted killings that it blames on Ukraine. The most recent attack involved Lieutenant-General Vladimir Alexeyev, deputy head of the GRU military intelligence service, who was shot three times in his Moscow apartment building. Ukraine denied involvement.
The Kremlin also condemned what it called an intensification of Ukrainian attacks on Gazprom gas compressor stations serving two major pipelines, stating that such incidents threatened critical infrastructure and international energy routes. The pipelines carry Russian gas across the Black Sea to Turkey and further into Europe.
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