Russia and Ukraine engage in an unprecedented number of drone strikes against each other.

 

Russia and Ukraine have exchanged unprecedented numbers of drone strikes, with Moscow launching 145 drones on Saturday night—the highest number in a single nighttime assault during the war. Meanwhile, Ukraine conducted its largest drone attack on Moscow overnight from Saturday into Sunday.

"Last night, Russia launched a record 145 Shahed and other strike drones against Ukraine," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Sunday.

Shahed drones are cost-effective, one-way attack UAVs designed for autonomous flight; their paths are programmed before launch, allowing them to independently reach their targets.

Zelensky further reported that throughout the week, Russia has deployed over 800 guided aerial bombs, approximately 600 strike drones, and nearly 20 missiles of various types.

According to a statement from the Ukrainian Air Force Command, Russia "attacked Ukraine with a record number of UAVs" on Saturday night. By 9:30 a.m. local time on Sunday, Ukrainian defenses had shot down 62 of these drones. Additionally, the Air Force Command noted that 67 enemy drones were lost in various regions of Ukraine, while another 10 Russian UAVs exited Ukrainian airspace toward Moldova, Belarus, and Russia.

In response, Ukraine launched its most extensive attack on Moscow since the war began, affecting flights at two airports in the Russian capital. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that 34 drones were directed at Moscow. However, all of these UAVs were intercepted by Russian air defenses between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Sunday, as confirmed by Andrey Vorobyov, governor of the Moscow region, who noted that the drones were shot down over areas including Ramenskoye, Kolomna, and Domodedovo.

Shrapnel from the falling drones ignited fires in two houses in Ramenskoye. A 52-year-old woman sustained injuries from the shrapnel and was hospitalized with burns to her face, neck, and hands, according to Vorobyov, who added that she is currently in intensive care.

The attack on Sunday led to “temporary restrictions” on flights at Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports, which serve the Moscow region, starting just after 8 a.m. local time, as reported by Russian state media agency TASS, citing Russia’s federal air transport agency. The restrictions were lifted shortly after 10 a.m. local time.

The previous largest drone attack on Moscow occurred in September, when Russia claimed to have destroyed at least 20 Ukrainian attack drones. That incident resulted in at least one fatality near Moscow, according to Russian authorities. Additionally, three of Moscow’s four airports were closed for over six hours, causing nearly 50 flights to be diverted.