On the night of September 1, Moscow experienced a significant drone attack, as reported by Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. At least 11 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were shot down over the capital and its surrounding regions, including the Podolsk, Ramensky, Leninsky, and Odintsovsky urban districts. The mayor confirmed that the drone assault was repelled, with various drones targeting critical infrastructure, such as the Moscow Oil Refinery (MORP).
As the situation unfolded, a downed drone caused damage to a technical room at the Moscow Oil Refinery, igniting a fire that was later deemed complex to manage by emergency services. Firefighting efforts were adjusted accordingly, with helicopters initially deployed but later recalled as the fire's complexity level decreased.
In the Kashira urban district, three enemy UAVs attempted an attack on the Kashira State District Power Plant. Fortunately, there were no casualties or damages reported, and electricity supply remained uninterrupted. Emergency responders were promptly dispatched to the site.
The Tver Region also reported the destruction of five UAVs, which resulted in localized fires. However, no casualties were reported, and essential utilities continued to function normally. In light of these drone activities, temporary restrictions were placed on operations at Moscow's Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky airports, leading to delays and alternate landings for numerous flights. By 09:05 Moscow time, air traffic returned to normal.
In a broader context, the Russian Ministry of Defense revealed that a total of 158 UAVs were intercepted across 15 regions of Russia, with significant numbers downed in the Kursk, Bryansk, and Voronezh regions. This highlights the ongoing challenges posed by drone warfare in the region.
