Moscow Says 84 Ukrainian Drones Shot Down in Overnight Air Defense Operation

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has said that Russian air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 84 drones approaching the capital overnight, in what authorities described as one of the latest large-scale aerial attacks attributed to Ukraine. According to statements posted on Telegram, the drones were detected and engaged beginning around 03:00 a.m. local time (00:00 GMT) as they approached the Moscow region.

Officials said the attack triggered temporary flight restrictions at several airports in the Moscow area, causing short-term disruption to civilian air traffic. Emergency services were deployed to multiple locations where debris from downed drones reportedly fell, though no immediate casualties or significant damage were confirmed in the early reports released by authorities.

Drone strikes attributed to Ukraine have become increasingly frequent in the context of the ongoing war with Russia, which began with the 2022 invasion. Ukraine has not commented on the specific incident, while Moscow officials continue to report heightened air defence activity around key infrastructure and the capital region amid escalating cross-border aerial operations.