Russian authorities say a massive Ukrainian drone attack targeted Moscow and surrounding regions overnight, leaving several people injured, damaging homes and infrastructure, cutting electricity supplies and disrupting flights.
Moscow Region Governor Andrey Vorobyev said at least three people were injured, including a ten-year-old girl who suffered shrapnel wounds when a drone crashed into a private home in Ramensky while the occupants were sleeping. A woman was hurt by falling debris in Bogorodsky District, while a 27-year-old man was wounded by shrapnel in Kolomna. All three were taken to hospital.
Significant damage was reported in Pavlovsky Posad, where a drone reportedly sparked a fire that destroyed a private house in Kuznetsy. Another blaze damaged the roof of an apartment building, forcing dozens of families to evacuate. No injuries were reported in those incidents.
Elsewhere, falling drone debris started a fire and damaged buildings in Kolomna, ignited construction materials in Kotelniki, and damaged a vehicle and electrical substation in Elektrostal.
A warehouse belonging to major Russian online retailer Wildberries was also struck in Bogorodsky. The company said the facility had been evacuated beforehand and the impact caused only minor damage to an exterior wall, with no goods affected.
More than 5,000 customers and 46 socially important facilities in Likino-Dulyovo and Orekhovo-Zuyevo lost electricity following damage to equipment supplying the Pavlovsky Posad area, according to regional power company Mosoblenergo.
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said 180 drones were brought down over the Moscow region. He said a total of 620 UAVs targeted Moscow and its surrounding districts between Monday evening and 5am on Tuesday.
The attack also caused widespread disruption at airports serving the Russian capital. Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky temporarily suspended flights, while Sheremetyevo operated under restrictions requiring coordination with authorities.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 791 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones across the country overnight. Drones were reported over 15 Russian regions as well as the Black Sea and Sea of Azov.
In Ryazan Region, Governor Pavel Malkov said nine drones were shot down and three people were injured.
The August 18 assault was among the largest Ukrainian drone attacks reported by Russia this year. It came just two days after the Russian Defence Ministry claimed its forces had intercepted and destroyed 822 Ukrainian drones in another major overnight raid.
Kiev has increasingly used long-range drones to strike targets deep inside Russian territory. Moscow has accused Ukraine of targeting residential areas, energy facilities, warehouses and other civilian infrastructure, while Ukraine has maintained that its long-range strikes are intended to weaken Russia’s military and logistical capabilities.
