Russian Defense Ministry Thwarts Another Drone Attack on Moscow

Russia has foiled another drone raid targeting a skyscraper in Russia's capital Moscow, which has been attacked by a drone for the second time in two days.

On Tuesday, the Russian Defense Ministry accused Kyiv of orchestrating an attack using unmanned aerial vehicles and reported that the drones were shot down overnight.

“Two Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed by air defence systems over the territory of the Odintsovo and Narofominsk districts of Moscow region,” the ministry wrote on Telegram.

“Another drone was suppressed by electronic warfare and, having lost control, crashed on the territory of Moscow City,” the ministry said.

There have been no reports of injuries, as confirmed by emergency services. However, the attack caused damage to the glazing above the 21st floor of the 42-storey IQ-Quarter tower, which houses the offices of Russian trade, digital and economic development ministries. IQ-Quarter is a part of the Moscow City business district situated along the western edge of the city along the Moskva river.

While the Kremlin has accused Ukraine of being responsible for the latest attack, Kyiv has not commented on the matter.

Despite Moscow’s distance of approximately 500 km, or 310 miles, from the Ukrainian border, the city has experienced multiple drone attacks this year, including a recent one that occurred over the weekend.

On Sunday, Russian defences downed drones in that same district, with debris damaging two office towers, blowing out several windows and scattering documents on the pavement below.

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin confirmed that one of the drones had targeted the same building as in the previous attack on Sunday. He noted that there were no reported casualties and added that emergency services promptly responded to the scene.

Last month, Russia said it had successfully intercepted and downed five Ukrainian drones. These unmanned aircraft were reportedly responsible for causing disruptions to the operations of Moscow’s Vnukovo International Airport.

Meanwhile, in Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, two Russian Navy patrol boats fired on and destroyed three sea drones overnight Monday.

"All three unmanned enemy boats were destroyed by fire from the ships' standard weapons," the ministry said.   

Russia launched an all-out offensive in Ukraine in February 2022, claiming that the “military operation” in Ukraine was aimed to protect the people of the separatist-controlled Donetsk and Lugansk, who were allegedly being attacked by the Ukrainian military.