Moscow officials said Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks on the Russian capital late Tuesday night Aug. 20, and early Wednesday morning, Aug. 21 since the start of the war. Russian air defense systems intercepted at least 12 drones over Moscow, with no casualties or significant damage reported, according to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.
Russia’s defense ministry confirmed that a total of 45 drones were shot down across multiple regions, including 23 over Bryansk, and several others in the Belgorod, Kaluga and Kursk regions. The attack briefly halted flights at three major Moscow airports, but operations resumed after a four-hour disruption.
This latest assault marks one of the most significant drone strikes on Moscow since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began in 2022. The attack follows months of Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russian military, energy and transport infrastructure. While Moscow described the operation as an act of terrorism, Kyiv often frames such actions as retaliation for Russia’s continued strikes on Ukrainian territory.
The drone strikes come as Russia presses forward in eastern Ukraine, where it controls roughly 18% of the territory. At the same time, Ukraine has been conducting an incursion into the Kursk region, which marks the largest foreign attack on Russian soil since World War II.
Russian media aired footage showing drones being destroyed in a ball of flames over the Moscow region, highlighting the effectiveness of the city’s layered defense system.
