Russian Defense Ministry accuses Ukraine of drone attack on Moscow

The Russian Defense Ministry made the statement.

Russia calls the attack “Kyiv's response”

"In the morning, the Kyiv regime carried out a terrorist attack by unmanned aerial vehicles against facilities in Moscow. Eight unmanned aerial vehicles of the aircraft type were involved in the attack. All enemy drones were destroyed," the statement said.

As noted, 3 drones were allegedly suppressed by electronic warfare, lost control and deviated from their intended targets. Another 5 unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down by the Pantsir-S anti-aircraft missile and gun system in the Moscow region.

The Russian leader’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov also blamed Ukraine for the drone attack on Moscow. 

"It is clear that these are the actions of the Kyiv regime in response to our very effective strikes on one of the decision-making centers. This strike took place on Sunday," Putin's spokesman said. 

Peskov added that the drone attack on Moscow, as well as the shelling of other Russian regions, confirm the need to achieve the goals set in Russia's war against Ukraine. 

He added that Putin had been informed about the attack, but he did not intend to address the Russians about it. 

Instead, the Baza Telegram channel reported that about 25 UAVs attacked Moscow and the region.

"Most of them were shot down by air defense forces in the Moscow region, some of the drones hit trees and wires because they were flying at a very low altitude. Three drones crashed into residential buildings, one of these UAVs was carrying explosive devices that did not detonate," they claim.

Where the drones were spotted

In the morning, the propagandists claimed that two explosions occurred in Novaya Riga, Moscow region. They were also allegedly heard in Odintsovo and Krasnogorsk near Moscow. According to preliminary reports, several quadcopters were shot down in Nikolo-Uryupino and on the waterfront in Ilinskoe.

In addition, Russian media reported an explosion in New Moscow.  According to a preliminary version, a drone flying from the Kaluga region towards Moscow could have crashed into a building. The UAV was flying at an extremely low altitude and crashed into the building near the technical floor.

Instead, emergency services claim that the drones hit two residential buildings in Moscow.

"One drone hit the upper floors of a residential building at 98 Profsoyuznaya Street. The facade and glazing of the building were destroyed. The second one hit a 24-storey residential building on Atlasova Street in the New Moscow Territorial Administrative District (New Moscow)," the statement said.

Security measures in Moscow

According to Moscow Mayor Sobyanin, "minor damage" occurred in several buildings in the morning as a result of the UAV attack. All the city's emergency services are at the scene, investigating the circumstances of the incident.

Meanwhile, the prefecture of the Southwestern Administrative District claims that residents of three blocks of a building on Profsoyuznaya Street in Moscow have been evacuated.

The Mash Telegram channel writes that a high-rise building on Leninsky Prospekt was also attacked by drones, and three ambulances were on their way. It is alleged that the UAV debris flew into the window of one of the apartments. About 300 people have been temporarily evacuated. Special services have cordoned off the area, and emergency services are working.

Afterwards, the mayor of the Russian capital confirmed that residents of several blocks of two buildings had been evacuated. He added that the residents will be able to return to their apartments after the security services finish their work.

The Department of Transport and Development of Road Transport Infrastructure says that traffic is blocked on Udaltsova Street from Leninsky Prospekt to Mikhail Pevtsov Street in southwestern Moscow.

Media also claim that satellite navigation signals are being jammed in Moscow.

"The measure is connected with an attack by drones that use them for targeting. Taxi drivers and drivers complain about GPS malfunctions," the report says.

The Typhoon plan for the Moscow police was also announced. It means gathering personnel involved in emergency response.

Later, two people were reported to have sought medical assistance in Moscow.

"Emergency services and several ambulance crews continue to work at the sites of the UAV crash in Moscow. No one needed hospitalization," the mayor emphasized.

For his part, Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyov said that several drones were shot down on their approach to Moscow.

"This morning, residents of some districts of the Moscow region could hear the sounds of explosions - our air defense system is working. Several drones were shot down on the approach to Moscow. I ask residents to stay calm," he said.

Ukraine’s reaction

Commenting on the incident, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said that "the drones want to return to their creators."

"You know, we are getting involved in the era of artificial intelligence. Perhaps not all drones are ready to attack Ukraine and want to return to their creators and ask questions accordingly: "Why are you sending us (to attack) the children of Ukraine, Kyiv, and so on?" Podolyak said.

"And the second aspect is important. All the people who believe that they can play a one-sided game, that they can destroy another sovereign state with absolute impunity... After 15 months, did they realize there would be no repeat of the 2014 situation? No signing of the dividing line... Each of them will be held fully accountable," he added on the Breakfast Show.