On Sunday, Ukraine launched its largest drone strike on Moscow since the start of the war in 2022, with over 34 drones targeting the Russian capital, leading to flight diversions from major airports and injuring one person. Russian air defenses responded by downing 36 additional drones in other areas of Western Russia, while Ukrainian officials reported that Russia, in turn, deployed a record 145 drones overnight, 62 of which were shot down by Ukrainian defenses. Moscow’s air transport agency confirmed the temporary diversion of flights at Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo, and Zhukovsky airports, which have since resumed normal operations. Both Moscow and Kyiv continue to intensify drone warfare, with Ukraine also claiming an attack on a Russian arsenal in the Bryansk region.
As the conflict approaches what officials suggest could be a final phase, Russia has enhanced Moscow’s aerial defenses, deploying electronic “umbrellas” and advanced interception systems to protect critical sites, including the Kremlin. Both nations have heavily invested in drone technology, using everything from commercial drones to sophisticated jamming systems in a war that has often resembled trench warfare but with modern innovations. Russian President Vladimir Putin has labeled Ukraine’s drone attacks on civilian infrastructure as “terrorism” and pledged a response. Despite these attacks, daily life in Moscow appears unchanged, with the city enjoying economic growth from increased defense spending.