A series of Ukrainian drone strikes overnight resulted in the death of a 46-year-old woman near Moscow, marking the first fatality near the capital since Russia’s offensive began, Russian officials reported on Tuesday. The attacks led to the downing of 144 drones over Russia, disrupted air traffic at Moscow’s airports, and triggered air defenses across the country.
The woman was killed in Ramenskoye, a town in the Moscow region. Three others were hospitalized. Earlier reports of a 9-year-old child being killed remain unconfirmed, according to Governor Andrey Vorobyov.
The Moscow region has faced multiple drone attacks since the start of Russia’s offensive in Ukraine in 2022, but this incident is the first to result in a death. Russia’s defense ministry confirmed it intercepted 144 Ukrainian drones across nine regions, including 20 over the Moscow area.
In Ramenskoye, AFP reporters observed significant damage to the 10th through 12th floors of a 17-story apartment block where a woman was killed in a drone strike. Nearby, a dozen residents waited to return to their homes after firefighters extinguished the blaze caused by the attack.
The strike led to flight cancellations and delays at four Moscow airports, including major hubs Domodedovo and Sheremetyevo, according to state media.
In Bryansk, near the Ukrainian border, regional Governor Aleksandr Bogomaz reported a “massive terrorist attack” but confirmed there were no casualties or damage, with all attacks repelled. The defense ministry stated that 72 drones were downed in the region.
The drone strikes coincided with ongoing military actions in eastern Ukraine. Moscow reported capturing the village of Memryk, seen as a strategic step towards the Ukrainian logistics hub of Pokrovsk. Kyiv’s forces have been advancing into Russia’s Kursk region, part of their offensive launched on August 6 to pressure Russia into redeploying troops from the eastern front.
Moscow has continued its aerial assaults on Ukraine in recent weeks, targeting crucial energy infrastructure in preparation for winter.
Overnight, Ukrainian forces shot down three Russian drones over the Sumy region, according to the regional military administration. Air defenses were also activated around Kyiv.
The military administration in Kyiv later reported that there were “no consequences” from the Russian UAV attack.
On Monday, UN human rights chief Volker Turk condemned Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Turk told the UN Human Rights Council that Ukrainians are facing “ongoing attacks by the Russian Federation on civilian facilities such as hospitals, schools, and supermarkets, as well as repeated strikes on energy infrastructure.” He expressed concern for the plight of Ukrainians as winter approaches.
