Major Ukrainian Drone Attack Hits Moscow and Other Regions, Resulting in Fatalities

On Tuesday, Ukraine launched its most significant drone attack to date, targeting Moscow and eight other Russian regions. The assault led to the death of a resident in Moscow and caused substantial damage to residential buildings.
A drone strike hit an apartment building in Ramenskoye, a suburb around 18 miles from Moscow, killing a 46-year-old woman and injuring twelve others, including one seriously. The attack damaged over half of the 102 apartments in the targeted building. Another strike on Vysokovoltnaya Street also resulted in one injury, and 43 residents were moved to temporary shelters.
The attack, involving at least 144 drones nationwide, prompted temporary closures at Moscow’s Zhukovsky, Vnukovo, and Domodedovo airports. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that at least 14 drones were intercepted in and around the capital.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemned the attacks, asserting that Russia must continue its “special military operation” to prevent future incidents. He described the drone strikes as lacking military targets and labeled the Ukrainian government as “enemies.”
This marked the first fatality in the Moscow region due to Ukrainian drone strikes since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The incident underscores Kyiv’s strategy of using drones to pressure Russia, as Western missiles remain unavailable for deep strikes against Russian military installations.
In recent months, Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russian oil refineries and fuel depots, causing significant but repairable damage. British intelligence estimates that over 1,000 Russian soldiers are killed or wounded daily, though domestic criticism of the war is heavily suppressed in Russia.
In response to the drone attacks, Russia’s Investigative Committee has opened a terrorism case. Pro-Kremlin analysts have called for enhanced air defenses and retaliation against Western countries, which Russia blames for supporting Ukraine.
The attack follows a September 1 drone strike on the Moscow Oil Refinery and comes amid ongoing discussions about a potential agreement between Russia and Ukraine to halt strikes on energy infrastructure and other civilian targets. However, recent developments, including Ukrainian incursions near Kursk, have complicated the prospects for such agreements.