Ukraine launched what officials are calling the largest drone attack on Moscow since the war began, targeting the Russian capital with a significant number of unmanned aerial vehicles. Russian air defenses reportedly intercepted and destroyed at least 11 drones aimed at Moscow and a total of 45 drones across the country, according to Russian authorities. The exact number of drones launched remains unclear.
Moscow's mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, acknowledged the scale of the assault, stating, "This is one of the largest attempts to attack Moscow using drones ever. We continue to monitor the situation." So far, Russian officials have not reported any damage or injuries resulting from the overnight attack, and Ukraine has not yet issued a statement regarding the incident.
The drone attack coincided with an unexpected visit by Vladimir Putin to Chechnya, his first in nearly 13 years. During his trip, Putin inspected Chechen troops and volunteers preparing to fight in Ukraine, alongside Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. "As long as we have men like you, we are absolutely, absolutely invincible," Putin reportedly told the assembled forces.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's incursion into Russia's Kursk region has entered its third week. Russian military bloggers have confirmed that all three bridges over the Seym River in western Russia have been either damaged or destroyed during the ongoing offensive.