Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Russia’s air defense forces intercepted and destroyed more than 100 Ukrainian drones in a concentrated series of attacks overnight, underscoring the intensifying use of unmanned aerial vehicles in the conflict between the two countries.
According to Russia’s Ministry of Defense, air defense systems shot down 111 Ukrainian drones within a three-hour window across six Russian regions. Eight of the drones were intercepted over the Moscow region, highlighting the continued targeting of areas deep inside Russian territory.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin later reported that an additional 11 drones were destroyed while approaching the capital, saying emergency services were dispatched to the sites where debris fell. He did not report casualties or major damage, a pattern consistent with previous drone incidents around the city, where authorities often emphasize the effectiveness of air defenses.
The attacks prompted temporary disruptions to air travel. Russia’s aviation watchdog, Rosaviatsia, announced that flights at Moscow’s Vnukovo and Sheremetyevo airports were briefly restricted for security reasons. Such measures have become increasingly common as drone activity near major urban centers and critical infrastructure has increased over recent months.
Ukraine has not immediately commented on the reported drone launches. Kyiv has previously stated that long-range drone operations are aimed at weakening Russia’s military and logistical capabilities, particularly facilities involved in sustaining the war effort. Moscow, for its part, has accused Ukraine of attempting to spread fear among civilians and disrupt daily life far from the front lines.
The growing frequency and scale of drone attacks reflect a broader shift in the conflict, with both sides relying more heavily on relatively low-cost unmanned systems to strike targets well beyond the battlefield. As air defenses and countermeasures continue to adapt, drone warfare has emerged as one of the defining features of the war, carrying implications not only for military operations but also for civilian aviation and security across the region.
