Moscow Faces Drone Attack As Russian Forces Intercept 180 UAVs, Airports Closed
Moscow faces major drone attack as Russian air defence intercepts 180 UAVs.
Russian air defence systems reportedly intercepted around 180 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) during what local officials described as a large-scale drone attack on Moscow and surrounding regions on Thursday. According to Russian state media reports, the incident has been described by Moscow authorities as one of the most intense drone assaults on the capital in the past two years.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated that air defence operations were continuing through the day as forces worked to neutralise incoming drones. He also confirmed that several UAVs targeted the Kapotnya district, where an oil refinery was reportedly struck. Authorities said emergency services were deployed immediately to assess and manage the aftermath of the attack.
As a precautionary measure, aviation operations in the Moscow region were temporarily suspended, with multiple airports affected. Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports were all reported to have halted departures and arrivals. The Russian Ministry of Transport and the Federal Air Transport Agency said the restrictions were necessary to ensure flight safety during the ongoing security situation.
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Officials also reported civilian injuries linked to the drone activity. Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyov said at least 16 people, including two children aged 10 and three, were injured. He added that emergency and medical teams were operating in heightened readiness mode, with victims receiving treatment and authorities maintaining contact with affected families.
Emergency response teams continued to monitor the situation as air defence operations remained active. Authorities said all relevant services were working to ensure public safety while assessing damage caused by falling debris and targeted strikes in affected areas.
The reported attack comes amid continued hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, with both sides increasingly relying on drone warfare. Earlier reports from Russian officials had also claimed interception of more than 140 drones over the Leningrad region earlier this month, underscoring the growing scale of aerial operations in the ongoing conflict.
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