LONDON and MOSCOW — Russia’s Defense Ministry said Tuesday it downed 144 Ukrainian drones during a major overnight attack over nine regions in the west of the country, including the Moscow area.
The ministry described the operation as “a terrorist attack using unmanned aerial vehicles.” It reported 72 drones downed over the Bryansk region, 14 over Kursk, 13 over Tula, eight over Belgorod, seven over Kaluga, five over Voronezh, four over Lipetsk and one over Oryol.
At least 20 drones flew over Moscow, according to the defense ministry.
Moscow regional Gov. Andrey Vorobyov said on Telegram that one 46-year-old woman died in Ramenskoye in the southeast of the city when a drone hit a residential building — the first time a Moscow resident has been killed in a Ukrainian drone attack.
Three others were injured in Ramenskoye and hospitalized. Another 43 people were taken to temporary accommodation centers. Three buildings in the town were hit, with 54 apartments damaged.
This photo released by Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyev official telegram channel shows the site of the damaged multi-storey residential building following an alleged Ukrainian drone attack in Ramenskoye, outside Moscow, Moscow region, Russia, on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024.
AP
Operations at three of the capital’s four airports were disrupted during the attack. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said fragments of one downed drone fell on the runway at Zhukovsky International Airport southeast of the capital. Emergency crews were deployed to deal with “the consequences” of the incident, Sobyanin wrote on Telegram.
The mayor said that drone fragments also fell on a home in the town of Troitsk southwest of the capital, causing no casualties.
This photo shows a damaged residential building following a drone attack in Ramenskoye in the Moscow region on September 10, 2024.
Tatyana Makeyeva/AFP via Getty Images
Ukrainian officials have not commented on the attack. Kyiv generally does not confirm or deny responsibility for strikes within Russian borders.
Russia also continued its long-range attacks on Ukraine into Tuesday morning. Ukraine’s air force reported one Iskander-M ballistic missile, one Kh-31P anti-radar missile and 48 Shahed attack drones fired into the country overnight.
This photo shows a damaged residential building following a drone attack in Ramenskoye in the Moscow region on September 10, 2024.
Tatyana Makeyeva/AFP via Getty Images
Thirty-eight of the drones were shot down, three left Ukrainian airspace and three more were lost over Ukrainian territory, likely due to electronic warfare measures, the air force said.
Air raid sirens sounded over Kyiv on Tuesday morning, with the air force warning residents of a possible attack drone strike. Air raid alerts were active in 13 regions of the country.
ABC News’ Victoria Beaule contributed to this report.
Ukraine has recently deployed 144 drones in its military operation against pro-Russian separatists in the eastern region of the country. This move comes as tensions between Ukraine and Russia continue to escalate, with Moscow responding by increasing its military presence along the border.
The drones, which are equipped with surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, are being used to gather intelligence on the movements of separatist forces and to target key locations. This marks a significant escalation in Ukraine’s military capabilities, as drones provide a strategic advantage in modern warfare.
The decision to deploy drones comes as Ukraine seeks to regain control of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which have been the site of ongoing conflict since 2014. The separatists in these regions have received support from Russia, leading to a protracted and bloody conflict that has claimed thousands of lives.
In response to Ukraine’s drone deployment, Moscow has increased its military presence along the border, raising concerns of a potential escalation in the conflict. Russia has accused Ukraine of violating the Minsk agreements, which were intended to bring an end to the fighting in eastern Ukraine.
The deployment of drones in the conflict highlights the growing importance of unmanned aerial vehicles in modern warfare. Drones provide a cost-effective and efficient way to gather intelligence and conduct targeted strikes, making them a valuable asset for military operations.
As the situation in eastern Ukraine continues to deteriorate, it is crucial for both sides to exercise restraint and seek a diplomatic solution to the conflict. The use of drones in the conflict only serves to escalate tensions and increase the risk of further violence.
In conclusion, Ukraine’s deployment of drones in its military operation against pro-Russian separatists marks a significant development in the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine. The use of drones highlights the evolving nature of modern warfare and the importance of advanced technology in military operations. It is imperative for both sides to work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict to prevent further bloodshed and instability in the region.
