Drone attacks on Moscow continue, disrupting air traffic
Russia shot down three Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow on Tuesday morning, the Russian Defense Ministry said, according to Reuters and news.ro.
The ministry said its air defense systems destroyed two drones over the Kaluga and Tver regions, which border the Moscow region, as well as one closer to the capital, over the Istra district of the Moscow region.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the drones were "attempting to carry out an attack on Moscow" and that a consumer services facility was damaged in the Istra district, which is about 65 kilometres northwest of the Kremlin.
Sobyanin also said that debris from the drone shot down in the Tver region fell in the village of Zavidovo. According to the state news agency RIA, Zavidovo is home to "Rus," a palace that is an official residence of Russian leader Vladimir Putin. His main residences are Novo-Ogaryovo in the Moscow region, as well as the Grand Kremlin Palace, where official events are held.
No casualties or damage were reported, according to the mayor.
Russian news agencies reported that nearly 50 flights were cancelled or delayed on Tuesday morning at the four main airports around the capital - Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo, and Zhukovsky.
Drone attacks on Russian targets, particularly in Crimea, which was annexed by Moscow in 2014, and in regions bordering Ukraine, have become nearly daily since two drones were shot down over the Kremlin in early May.
The attacks have disrupted flights to and from Moscow in recent weeks. Ukraine rarely takes direct responsibility for such drone attacks, but it says that destroying Russian military infrastructure helps its counteroffensive, which began in June.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
