Two Ukrainian drones attacked the Russian town of Kirchatov, local officials said, with one drone shot down as it approached Moscow.
 |
| A photo released by Moscow Regional Governor Andrei Vorobyev on August 22, 2023, shows the site where a downed Ukrainian drone fell in Krasnogorsk, just outside of Moscow, Russia [File: Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyev official Telegram channel via AP Photo] |
Two Ukrainian drones attacked the Russian town of Kirchatov in the Kursk region, damaging administrative and residential buildings, while a third drone was shot down near Moscow, local officials said.
Kursk regional governor Roman Starovet said emergency services were assessing the damage in the town of Kirchatov after the early-morning attack on Friday.
Starovoit wrote on the Telegram messaging app that two buildings were damaged but did not provide further details.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin also reported Friday morning that Russian air defenses had shot down a drone approaching the capital.
He wrote on Telegram that the drone was shot down near Lyubertsy, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) southeast of central Moscow. Further details were not available.
According to a local online news report, Moscow's three main airports – Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, and Vinkovo – reported canceling and rescheduling flights early Friday following reports of an unidentified object flying over the capital's airspace.
Russia's state-run TASS news agency later reported that Vnukovo airport resumed operations at 07:28 local time (04:28 GMT) after restrictions linked to the attempted drone strike were lifted.
On Thursday, Moscow Mayor Sobyanin said he wants to boost the city's air defenses in the face of daily drone attacks on the Russian capital.
"This year, we have done a lot to protect Moscow from drones and attempted terrorist attacks," Sobyanin told representatives of municipal companies, according to the Interfax news agency.
New air defense systems have been built, sometimes on a daily basis, in recent weeks, Sobyanin said.
"Sometimes the asphalt doesn't even have time to cool down - and the missiles are already in action, shooting down flying drones," he said, according to Interfax.
"This year, we have done a lot to protect Moscow from drones and attempted terrorist attacks," Sobyanin told representatives of municipal companies, according to the Interfax news agency.
New air defense systems have been built, sometimes on a daily basis, in recent weeks, Sobyanin said.
"Sometimes the asphalt doesn't even have time to cool down - and the missiles are already in action, shooting down flying drones," he said, according to Interfax.
