Russian authorities reported intercepting more than 100 Ukrainian drones overnight in one of the largest aerial attacks since the start of the war. The drones targeted six regions—including areas near Moscow—prompting temporary flight suspensions and heightened airspace alerts.
In a statement posted to Telegram, Russia’s defense ministry said 112 drones were “destroyed or intercepted” between late Tuesday and early Wednesday across Bryansk, Kursk, Belgorod, Tula, Oryol, and Kaluga regions. Of those, 12 drones aimed at the capital were shot down, leading to flight halts at Vnukovo and Zhukovsky airports, according to Russia’s federal aviation agency.
The Bryansk region, near the Ukrainian border, was reportedly the primary target, with 59 drones directed toward it.
This large-scale assault follows Ukraine's report earlier this week of enduring its most intense wave of Russian drone strikes since the war began in 2022. Over a three-day period, Ukraine claimed more than 900 drones were launched, killing at least 13 civilians, including three children, during Sunday's attacks.
While drone activity is not uncommon in the conflict, the scale and intensity of this Ukrainian offensive are unusual—especially given the number of drones and their reach deep into Russian territory. Moscow, located hundreds of kilometers from Ukraine, has seen an uptick in air alerts and diverted flights in recent weeks.
In response, Russia’s defense ministry said it launched drone and missile strikes on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, calling the Ukrainian offensive a "provocation."
