Moscow: Ukraine Launches Largest Drone Assault on Moscow, Russian Defenses Intercept Dozens. On Sunday, Ukraine launched a massive drone attack on Moscow, sending at least 34 drones hurtling toward the Russian capital in what has become the largest such assault since the war began in 2022. The strike forced the diversion of flights from three major airports in the city and resulted in at least one person being injured, local authorities reported.
Russian air defenses responded swiftly, intercepting and destroying an additional 36 drones over Western Russia within a span of three hours, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense. The ministry declared that the Kyiv government had attempted a "terrorist attack" using drones, but the assault was successfully thwarted.
The country's federal air transport agency confirmed that Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo, and Zhukovsky airports had to divert at least 36 flights before resuming normal operations. One individual was reported injured in the Moscow region. Moscow, along with its surrounding area, is home to over 21 million people, making it one of Europe's largest metropolitan regions.
Meanwhile, Russia retaliated with its own massive drone barrage, launching a record 145 drones overnight. Ukraine’s military reported shooting down 62 of those drones. Kyiv also claimed responsibility for an attack on a Russian military arsenal in Bryansk, where 14 drones were reportedly downed.
Amateur footage circulating on Russian Telegram channels showed drones buzzing through the city skyline, adding to the growing sense of unease over the conflict’s evolving tactics.
As the war enters its third year, it is entering a potentially decisive phase. Some officials have suggested that the conflict may be nearing its "final act" after Russian forces made significant advances at their fastest pace since the early days of the war. U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump, who has previously promised to end the war within 24 hours of taking office, remains vague on the specifics of his proposed plan for peace. He congratulated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on his reelection victory, with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a Trump supporter, joining the call. Musk, whose company SpaceX provides Ukraine with vital satellite communication services, has played a key role in supporting Ukraine's defense.
Drone Warfare's New Normal
Kyiv has repeatedly targeted Russian military infrastructure, including oil refineries, airfields, and early-warning radar stations, with an emphasis on drone strikes. Despite the warfront's largely static, trench-like battles, drone warfare has emerged as one of the most significant innovations of the conflict, with both sides ramping up their drone production and employing creative strategies for deployment and countermeasures.
Moscow, for its part, has bolstered its defenses, including the installation of electronic "umbrellas" over the capital, designed to intercept incoming drones before they can strike vital areas, including the Kremlin. The Russian military has also reinforced strategic buildings with additional air defenses to create a multi-layered protection system.
The conflict has seen both sides utilize inexpensive commercial drones for devastating purposes, while soldiers on both sides have described the psychological toll of dealing with the constant threat of drone strikes. Both Ukraine and Russia have shared gruesome drone footage for propaganda purposes, further escalating the psychological warfare.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned Ukraine's drone strikes targeting civilian infrastructure, such as power plants, as acts of "terrorism" and has vowed retaliation. Despite the mounting attacks, Moscow appears largely unaffected by the war’s direct toll on its day-to-day life. On Sunday, Muscovites went about their routines—walking dogs and enjoying the day—while the bells of the city's iconic Orthodox churches rang out, signaling life continuing as normal in the heart of the Russian capital.
With both Moscow and Kyiv now entrenched in a new phase of warfare dominated by drones, the conflict shows little sign of de-escalation, leaving the region on edge and the world watching closely for any signs of a breakthrough.