Moscow Faces Major Drone Assault Amid Continued Fighting
Moscow experienced one of the largest drone attacks since the beginning of the conflict with Ukraine in 2022. Russian officials reported that all drones targeting the capital were destroyed.
The attack on Moscow occurred as Ukrainian forces advanced in Russia’s western Kursk region. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin highlighted the scale of the drone assault, stating it was among the largest ever attempted. He credited the city’s robust defenses for intercepting all drones before they could reach their targets.
Russian authorities claimed to have downed 45 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 11 in the Moscow region. Videos circulating on Russian social media showed drones being intercepted by air defense systems, triggering car alarms in the process.
Alexander Bogomaz, the governor of Bryansk, a region adjacent to Ukraine, reported a significant drone attack on his area. He confirmed that all 23 drones targeting Bryansk were destroyed.
As Ukraine faces intense fighting in the eastern Donbas region, it has also launched drone strikes against Russian targets, including oil refineries and airfields. These attacks aim to weaken Russia’s military capabilities and have occasionally targeted Moscow directly.
The recent drone strikes have bolstered Ukrainian morale and altered the dynamics of the conflict. However, it remains uncertain how long Ukraine can maintain control over the territory it has captured in Kursk.
This incursion has introduced a new front to the conflict, stretching Ukrainian forces even further. Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to face challenges in Donbas, where it has been losing ground.
According to the Institute for the Study of War, Ukrainian forces have made notable progress in Kursk, now in its third week of fighting. The Russian state news agency Tass reported 31 fatalities and 143 injuries since the start of the Ukrainian attacks on Russia on August 6, though these figures remain unverified. Among the injured, 79 are hospitalized, including four children.
Ukrainian forces have targeted three bridges over the Seym River in Kursk, potentially trapping Russian troops between the river and advancing Ukrainian forces. This strategy appears to be slowing Russia’s response to the incursion.
Reports suggest that Ukrainian forces are also targeting Russian pontoon bridges and engineering equipment across the Seym. Satellite images analyzed by The Associated Press revealed a significant fire on the Seym near Krasnooktyabrskoe, indicating active front-line combat in the area.
