UPDATE 2 - Russia claims foiling Ukrainian attacks on Moscow, Bryansk, Crimea

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Russia on Monday claimed foiling Ukrainian attacks over the regions of Moscow and Bryansk, as well as the Crimean Peninsula, which it illegally annexed in 2014.

A statement by the Defense Ministry said it destroyed two Ukrainian drones during a "terrorist attack" over Crimea at around 10:30 a.m. Moscow time (0730GMT).

It later said a Ukrainian cruise missile was destroyed over the Black Sea off the coast of the peninsula.

In earlier releases, the ministry said air defense forces thwarted drone attacks over the Lyuberetsky district, Moscow region, and the Bryansk region.

The Federal Air Transport Agency said flights from Moscow's Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports were temporarily restricted "in order to ensure the safety of civil aircraft flights."

Drone strikes inside Russia have dramatically increased in recent months, with authorities accusing Ukraine of being behind them. Although Kyiv has not claimed responsibility, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in July the attacks on Russian territory were an “inevitable, natural and absolutely fair process.”