Russian Air Defenses Intercept Multiple Ukrainian Drones Targeting Moscow

 Moscow’s air defense systems successfully intercepted multiple Ukrainian drones attempting to breach the capital’s airspace, according to a statement by Mayor Sergey Sobyanin on Friday.

The latest wave of attempted incursions is part of a series of ongoing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) raids launched by Ukraine, which have, in recent months, penetrated deep into Russian territory. These drone operations have frequently struck residential neighborhoods and civilian infrastructure. Russian authorities have consistently condemned these actions, classifying them as “terrorist attacks” designed to target non-combatants.

In a message posted on his official Telegram channel, Mayor Sobyanin confirmed that air defense units had neutralized a drone heading toward Moscow. Emergency response teams were immediately deployed to the crash site to assess the situation. Approximately 40 minutes later, he reported that two additional drones had been intercepted while approaching the capital.

Similar drone activity was also reported earlier this week, with incidents occurring on Wednesday night and Thursday morning. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that a total of ten UAVs were intercepted and destroyed overnight in and around Moscow.

Governor Andrey Vorobyov of the Moscow Region confirmed that five districts had been targeted in the latest wave. While no casualties were reported, he acknowledged that several private residences sustained minor damage, although most drones were successfully destroyed in mid-air.

Mayor Sobyanin previously asserted that the city's air defense system operates with exceptional efficiency, reportedly intercepting 99.9% of incoming threats. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also reiterated that Russia employs a comprehensive, layered air defense strategy to mitigate the risk posed by drone attacks.