Moscow targeted by ‘30 drones’ as Ukraine war reaches Russia’s capital

Ukraine has denied direct involvement in a series of early morning drone attacks in Moscow that brought the war to the heart of Russia.

Sergei Sobyanin, the capital’s mayor, said that two people were hurt - but not seriously injured - in the strikes. Buildings were also damaged.

It was the first time Moscow has been targeted by multiple drone attacks since Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered his illegal invasion of Ukraine on 24 February last year.

The strikes came as Russia launched another round of attacks on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv, where one person has been killed and four injured by falling debris.

Where did the strike attacks take place?

Residents in Moscow - which is about 530km from the most northwesterly point in Ukraine, beyond the city of Sumy - reported hearing explosions around 6:24am and 6:58 local time.

Some filmed a drone being shot down and a plume of smoke rising over the Moscow skyline.

Early media reports said that as many as 30 drones had been involved in the attack - Russia’s defence ministry said it shot down eight.

RBC reported that three buildings had been hit by the drones: two near southern Moscow’s Leninsky Prospekt and a third in the town of Moskovskiy, close to Vnukovo Airport.

The areas are known to be some of the more wealthy neighborhoods in the Russian capital.

A senior Russian lawmaker said three of the drones had been downed over the capital’s exclusive Rublyovka suburb, which is home to Russia’s political and business elite and where Mr Putin has an official residence.

Where did the drones come from?

Drones, remote-controlled or preprogrammed, have been used extensively in battle to gather intelligence, direct artillery strikes and, to a lesser extent, drop explosives.

It remained unclear on Tuesday afternoon where exactly the drones used in the attack on Moscow had been launched from.

There are many different types of drones and Ukraine has several at its disposal, including the Turkish Bayraktar TB2, which has been used by Kyiv’s troops on Russian targets.

Ukraine also has Switchblade drones, Phoenix Ghost drones and DJI Mavic 3 drones.

According to the Military Today website, the TB2 has a range of up 300km (186m). The Switchblade drones have a range of over 40km (24m) and the Phoenix Ghost has a similar range. The DJI Mavic 3 drone have a range of around 15km (4.3m)

Are drone attacks on Russia new?

No. There have been sporadic drone attacks on targets in Russia since February last year, although those on Tuesday morning were the first multiple strikes aimed at the capital.

Earlier this month an oil storage depot in Russia exploded after coming under attack from a drone.

A tank containing tons of fuel burst into flames at a port near Volna village on the Black Sea, close to a key bridge linking Russia to the annexed Crimea peninsula, on 3 May.

Ukraine also denied direct responsibility for that strike.

What has Russia said?

Russia’s defence ministry blamed Ukraine for what it called a "terrorist" attack and claimed it had shot down all of the drones.

The defence ministry said that eight drones had attacked the Russian capital.

Baza, a Telegram channel with links to the security services, said that more than 25 drones were involved.

Later on Tuesday Russia’s foreign ministry Tuesday said it reserved the right to take the most "severe measures" in response to a drone attack on the capital Moscow earlier in the day.

"Assurances by NATO officials that the Kyiv regime will not launch strikes deep into Russian territory prove to be completely hypocritical," the ministry said in a statement.

"Russia reserves the right to take the harshest possible measures in response to the terrorist attacks by the Kyiv regime," it added.

What has Ukraine said?

Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak said that Kyiv was watching the strike "with enjoyment" and predicted more such attacks, even as he denied Ukraine’s involvement.