2 weeks ago
Moscow faces largest Ukrainian drone attack in two years
In the middle of the night, many flying machines called drones flew toward Moscow, the capital of Russia.
Russian defences stopped some of them, shooting down 180 drones.
The mayor of Moscow said this was the biggest drone attack on the city in two years.
Because of the drones, some airports had to pause planes from taking off and landing for a while.
Luckily, no one in Moscow was hurt right away.
A few days earlier, another attack happened in a port city called Novorossiysk, where three people died and eight were hurt.
That attack damaged schools and pipes that bring water to the city, so local leaders declared an emergency.
Ukraine and Russia are in a big fight, and drones are being used against both sides.
The leader of Ukraine said the attack was aimed at a naval base used by Russian ships in the Black Sea.
People were also hurt in other places, including Belgorod, Luhansk and Crimea.
A record 620 Ukrainian drones headed toward the Moscow region overnight, with Russian air defences destroying 180 before 5 a.m. Tuesday.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin called it the largest drone attack on the capital in two years, surpassing Sunday night's wave of about 600 UAVs.
Flight operations were temporarily halted at Vnukovo, Zhukovsky and Domodedovo airports, while Sheremetyevo Airport operated under partial restrictions.
No casualties or major damage were immediately reported in Moscow, and emergency crews were deployed to sites where drone debris fell.
The assault followed an August 12 strike on Novorossiysk that killed three and injured eight, and which President Volodymyr Zelensky said targeted Russia's Black Sea naval base.
- Who
- Ukrainian forces launched the drones, while Russian officials including Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin and Novorossiysk Mayor Andrei Kravchenko responded, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented on the strikes.
- What
- The largest Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow in two years, involving 620 UAVs, along with a related strike on Russia's naval base in Novorossiysk.
- Where
- The Moscow region and its airports in Russia, as well as Novorossiysk, Belgorod, Luhansk and Crimea.
- When
- From yesterday evening until 5:00 a.m. Tuesday for the Moscow attack; the Novorossiysk strike occurred on August 12.
- Why
- The attacks are part of the Russia-Ukraine war; Zelensky said the Novorossiysk strike targeted Russia's Black Sea naval base, hitting air defence positions, piers and seaport infrastructure.
Ukrainian viewpoint
Russian viewpoint
Target of the strikes
Ukrainian viewpoint
President Zelensky said the strikes targeted Russia's Novorossiysk naval base, hitting air defence positions, piers and seaport infrastructure.
Russian viewpoint
Russian officials emphasized the attack on the Moscow region and civilian impacts, including halted airport operations, damaged educational facilities and ruptured water mains.
Impact on civilians
Ukrainian viewpoint
The operation focused on military targets supporting the Russian fleet in the Black Sea.
Russian viewpoint
Russian authorities reported civilian deaths and injuries in Belgorod, Luhansk and Crimea, plus a state of emergency in Novorossiysk.
Key facts
- Drones headed toward Moscow
- 620 UAVs
- Drones destroyed by Russian air defences
- 180
- Previous record
- About 600 UAVs on Sunday night
- Airports disrupted
- Vnukovo, Zhukovsky, Domodedovo (operations halted); Sheremetyevo (partial restrictions)
- Casualties in Moscow
- None immediately reported
- Novorossiysk strike date
- August 12
- Novorossiysk casualties
- 3 killed, 8 injured
- Casualties in other regions
- Belgorod: 2 killed, 3 injured; Luhansk: 1 child killed, 8 wounded; Crimea: 1 killed
Quotes
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
President of Ukraine, announcing target of the strike
“"From yesterday evening until 5:00 a.m. today, 620 UAVs were flying toward the Moscow region. Of these, 180 drones were destroyed."”
thehansindia.com
thestatesman.com
“"The August 12 operation had targeted Russia’s naval base in Novorossiysk."”
thestatesman.com
Sources
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