Moscow and its surrounding region endured an unprecedented aerial offensive with over 1,600 drones neutralized within 24 hours, including 450 at the gates of the capital. This overnight attack nevertheless caused the deaths of at least two civilians and injured 20 people, including three children, while striking residential homes and the Moscow oil refinery.
Over the past 24 hours, Russian air defenses repelled the most massive drone attack ever launched by Ukraine against Moscow, city Mayor Sergei Sobyanin declared today. According to him, since the evening of Saturday, September 19, more than 1,600 unmanned aircraft were intercepted across all defensive lines, including 450 on their approach to Moscow.
The Moscow region was also targeted by a massive Ukrainian raid. According to regional Governor Andrei Vorobyov, air defense forces and electronic warfare systems shot down and neutralized at least 249 drones across 17 districts during the night, with the assault continuing into the morning.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, a total of 1,110 Ukrainian drones were intercepted over Russia overnight from September 19 to September 20. Drones were destroyed over at least 21 regions across the country, particularly in central Russia as well as areas bordering Ukraine.
At least two dead, 20 others injured
Following the overnight Ukrainian attack on the Russian capital, drones damaged a facility at the Moscow oil refinery site without causing casualties, Sergei Sobyanin specified. Additionally, a drone struck a building in southern Moscow.
Regarding the Moscow region, the impact of the attack proved more severe. According to Andrei Vorobyov, several drones hit single-family homes and residential apartment buildings, igniting fires in some of them. Authorities have currently initiated the reconstruction process for the damaged structures.
As a result of this Ukrainian attack, at least 20 people, including three children, required medical care. Specifically, two teenagers aged 14 and 15 suffered head injuries and remain hospitalized. Another 11-year-old child sustained a leg injury.
Regrettably, civilian casualties were reported. According to Andrei Vorobyov, two people lost their lives during the strike: a 74-year-old man and a 44-year-old woman in the eastern districts of the Moscow region.
This large-scale Ukrainian offensive occurred while elections to the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian Parliament, were taking place in Russia. Sergei Sobyanin emphasized that this unprecedented raid was staged to disrupt the voting process. He noted, however, that the adversary failed to achieve its objective.
In recent months, Kiev has intensified its strikes against Russian regions, particularly targeting the Moscow area. In August alone, 8,670 Ukrainian drones flew over the region. That same period saw what had previously been the largest Ukrainian attack against Russia since the start of the year, with 822 drones intercepted and destroyed within a 12-hour span.