In a significant escalation, Ukraine launched its largest drone attack yet, targeting Moscow.
Russia, boasting the title of the globe's largest nuclear power, declared destruction of at least 20 Ukrainian assault drones hovering over the Moscow region, home to over 21 million people. Meanwhile, in eight other regions, another 124 drones were annihilated.
A fatality was reported close to Moscow, according to Russian authorities. Three out of Moscow's four airports were shut down for more than six hours, leading to the diversion of nearly 50 flights.
Ukraine claimed that Russia, having sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, launched an attack on them at night, using 46 drones; 38 of which were obliterated.
The drone attacks on Russian territory inflicted damage on high-rise apartment buildings in the Ramenskoye district of the Moscow region, causing fires in flats, as reported by residents.
A 46-year-old woman was slain, and three individuals were injured in Ramenskoye, as mentioned by Moscow regional governor Andrei Vorobyov.
Residents reported awakening to explosions and fires.
"I gazed out the window and saw a ball of fire," stated Alexander Li, a district resident, sharing his experience with Reuters. "The window was shattered by the shockwave."
Georgy, a resident antagonistic to revealing his last name, reported hearing a drone humming outside his building in the early hours.
"I drew aside the curtain, and it struck the building right before my eyes," he said. "I observed it all. I evacuated my family and we left."
The Ramenskoye district, approximately 50 km (31 miles) southeast of the Kremlin, has a population of around a quarter of a million individuals, according to official data.
More than 70 drones were also eliminated over Russia's Bryansk region, and many more were destroyed over other regions, the Russian defense ministry disclosed. No damage or casualties were registered there.
Drone Warfare
As Russia strengthens its position in eastern Ukraine, Kyiv has retaliated against Russia with a border attack initiated in Russia's western Kursk region on August 6, and by conducting progressively large-scale drone assaults deeper into Russian territory.
The conflict has primarily evolved into an artillery and drone war along the 1,000 km (620 mile) heavily fortified border in southern and eastern Ukraine, involving countless troops.
Moscow and Kyiv have pursued the acquisition and development of cutting-edge drones, devised ingenious methods for deploying them, and have sought innovative ways to counteract them – from shotguns to advanced electronic jamming systems.
Both sides have repurposed inexpensive commercial drones into lethal weapons while escalating their own production and assembly capabilities to target structures such as tanks, energy infrastructure like refineries and airfields.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, attempting to shield Moscow from the exhausting demands of the war, has termed the Ukrainian drone attacks as "terrorism," as they attack civilian infrastructure; and has threatened a response.
Moscow and other prominent Russian cities have largely remained untouched by the conflict.
Russia has obliterated Ukraine with thousands of missiles and drones in the past two-and-a-half years, resulting in the deaths of thousands of civilians, crippling much of Ukraine's energy system, and damaging commercial and residential properties across the nation.
Ukraine asserts that it has the right to retaliate forcefully into Russia, while Kyiv's Western allies have stressed against a direct confrontation between Russia and the NATO-led Western military alliance.
No immediate comment was issued from Ukraine regarding Tuesday's assaults. Both sides deny targeting civilians.
Tuesday's assault followed drone attacks Ukraine launched in early September targeting primarily Russia's energy and power facilities.
Authorities of the Tula region, neighbors to the Moscow region to its north, reported that drone debris fell onto a fuel and energy facility, although the technological process of the facility did not suffer any damage.
Europe expressed concern over the escalating drone attacks in both Ukraine and Russia, potentially impacting global stability. The world community called for a de-escalation of tensions and diplomatic solutions to resolve the ongoing conflict.
