Russia says 3 Ukrainian drones downed in attack on Moscow

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) — Russia claimed on Wednesday that three Ukrainian drones were downed in the air over Moscow overnight.

"Air defense forces thwarted another attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack by three aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles on the city of Moscow," said a statement by the Russian Defense Ministry.

The statement noted that two of the drones attacking Moscow were "destroyed by air defense systems in the air over the territory of the Mozhaysky and Khimki districts of the Moscow region."

"The third UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) was suppressed by means of electronic warfare and, having lost control, collided with a building of the Moscow City complex under construction," the statement further said, adding that no casualties had taken place.

In an earlier statement on Telegram, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said emergency services had been dispatched to the crash site and that there were no casualties, citing preliminary information.

Ukrainian officials have not yet commented on the matter and independent verification of Russia's claim is difficult due to the ongoing war.

Drone strikes inside Russia have dramatically increased in recent months, notably in Moscow and the country's regions bordering Ukraine, with authorities accusing Ukraine of being behind them.

Though Kyiv has not claimed responsibility, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in late July that the attacks on Russian territory are an "inevitable, natural and absolutely fair process."