The Moscow region faced its most extensive drone attack since the onset of the full-scale war in Ukraine. The attack resulted in the deaths of three men and injuries to 18 others, including three children, according to Russian health officials.
Deadly Strike on Distribution Center
Officials confirmed that the three fatalities occurred at a distribution center in the village of Yam near Domodedovo airport. The men, aged 38, 43, and 50, were working at the Miratorg agricultural distribution center when drone debris struck at 05:14 (02:14 GMT) on Tuesday. One was a security guard, while the other two had just begun their shift. The attack caused extensive damage, destroying dozens of vehicles in a nearby parking lot and shattering the glass front of a supermarket. The company reported that 40 cars were damaged in the parking lot.
Extensive Damage Across Moscow Region
The Russian defense ministry reported that 337 drones were intercepted across Russia, with 91 of them shot down over the Moscow region. Several residential areas were also affected. In Vidnoye, just south of the Moscow ring road, a block of flats was hit, injuring multiple residents. Another apartment block in Ramenskoye suffered damage, with seven apartments reported affected.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin described the drone assault as “the most massive” attack his region had ever witnessed. A district train network was suspended, and flight restrictions were imposed at Moscow’s major airports—Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo, and Zhukovsky—as well as in the Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod regions.
Further Attacks in Kursk Region
Hours before the Moscow region attack, a shopping center in the Kursk region, which borders Ukraine, was shelled, resulting in four deaths. Russian officials linked the incident to Ukrainian forces, further escalating tensions.
Political Repercussions and US-Ukraine Talks
The drone attack came just before a critical meeting between the US and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia. Ukrainian delegates met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss ways to end the ongoing conflict. Rubio hinted that Ukraine might need to cede some territory to Russia as part of a potential peace deal, emphasizing that “there’s no military solution to this situation.”
Ukraine’s Response and Air Defense Successes
Ukrainian officials also reported Russian drone and missile attacks overnight. Ukraine’s air force claimed to have intercepted 79 out of 126 drones launched by Russia, alongside an Iskander-M ballistic missile. Additionally, 35 drones likely failed to reach their targets due to electronic warfare countermeasures.
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A Signal for Ceasefire Talks?
The scale of the Moscow drone attack is seen as a message to push Russian President Vladimir Putin toward a ceasefire agreement. With both sides suffering heavy drone assaults, diplomatic efforts to halt hostilities may gain momentum. However, with ongoing strikes in both nations’ capitals, a peaceful resolution remains uncertain.
As the war continues, both Russia and Ukraine face escalating drone warfare, civilian casualties, and economic disruptions. The coming weeks will determine whether diplomatic efforts can bring an end to the conflict or if further escalation is inevitable.
