Russia says more than 600 drones launched toward Moscow overnight
Russia said air defences intercepted most of 613 drones launched toward Moscow overnight, in what officials described as a major attack on the capital. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 231 of the unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed on approach to the city, while the rest were neutralised on distant approaches between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. The incident was described as the latest in a series of major drone assaults targeting the Moscow region.
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According to the reported figures, the attack unfolded over several hours and involved a large number of drones approaching the city from different directions. The mayor said the drones were destroyed before reaching Moscow itself, indicating that air defence systems were engaged both near the city and farther out. The reporting did not give details on damage inside Moscow or on any casualties linked to the overnight strike.
The scale of the attack is notable because it comes after earlier large drone raids on the Moscow region. The same reporting said Russian air defence forces had previously reported shooting down more than 1,600 drones in a record attack in September. That comparison suggests the overnight strike is part of a continuing pattern of long-range drone pressure on the Russian capital and surrounding region.
The incident matters because Moscow is both Russia's political centre and a heavily protected target, so any large-scale drone penetration attempt carries symbolic and security significance. Repeated attacks on the region also point to the continuing reach of the wider conflict and the strain on air defence resources. For Russian authorities, the ability to report interceptions is important, but the frequency of such attacks also highlights the persistence of the threat.
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The reported assault also comes against the backdrop of ongoing cross-border strikes in the war between Russia and Ukraine. The same report noted that Ukraine's Kharkiv was attacked as well, with damage to an educational institution reported by Mayor Ihor Terekhov. That wider context underlines how drone warfare remains a central feature of the conflict, with both sides facing repeated attacks on cities and infrastructure.
What remains unclear is the full extent of any damage caused by the overnight drone assault, as well as whether there were injuries or other consequences beyond the reported interceptions. It is also not clear how many drones were launched in total toward the wider Moscow region versus the city itself. Further official updates would be needed to confirm the impact on infrastructure, air traffic, and any additional defensive measures taken after the attack.
