Alleged Ukrainian drone strike hits buildings in Moscow - Russia

Drones hit two non-residential buildings in Moscow at around 4 a.m. (0100 GMT) on Monday, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on his Telegram messaging app.

 A police officer carries debris to the members of the security services as they investigate a bridge near the site of a damaged building following a reported drone attack in Moscow, Russia, July 24, 2023. (photo credit: MAXIM SHEMETOV/REUTERS)
A police officer carries debris to the members of the security services as they investigate a bridge near the site of a damaged building following a reported drone attack in Moscow, Russia, July 24, 2023.
(photo credit: MAXIM SHEMETOV/REUTERS)

Days after Russia carried out massive attacks on Odesa, the Kremlin claimed Kyiv carried out a drone attack on targets in Moscow. Russia said that “the debris of a drone was found in central Moscow on Monday.” The reports from Moscow said that the debris was found on Komsomolsky Prospekt, a street.

“The debris of a drone was discovered. According to preliminary information, there were no casualties," the official said. 

Russia’s claims made their way to Middle Eastern media, including pro-Iran media. Al-Mayadeen noted that the “Russian Ministry of Defense announced that it had thwarted a terrorist attack by two drones on targets in Moscow.”

Russia blames Ukraine for drone attacks

Moscow slammed Kyiv for the drone incidents. That report said that Russia used electronic warfare systems to thwart the attack and down two of the drones. 

However, the report said that the Moscow mayor “announced that two buildings were subjected to an attempted attack by two drones, at dawn today, which were shot down by electronic defenses, without the attack resulting in injuries or major damage.”

 A view shows a damaged multi-storey apartment block following a reported drone attack in Moscow, Russia, May 30, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/MAXIM SHEMETOV)
A view shows a damaged multi-storey apartment block following a reported drone attack in Moscow, Russia, May 30, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/MAXIM SHEMETOV)

The mayor was reported to have said the attack took place around 4 a.m. today, targeting two non-residential buildings in Moscow. 

CNN also reported the attack, claiming that “Ukrainian drones struck two non-residential buildings,” quoting officials in Moscow. This is the latest drone incident in Russia.

Russia has sought to increase attacks on Ukraine in recent days. Russia claims it is responding to an attack on a bridge in Crimea. As such it has torpedoed a grain deal. Ukraine launched an offensive several months ago but the offensive is going slowly.