Russia Says It Shot Down 76 Ukrainian Drones Headed for Moscow; Flights Suspended at Domodedovo and Zhukovsky

Russian authorities said on Saturday that dozens of Ukrainian drones were intercepted overnight en route to Moscow, as part of a wider attack that, they said, targeted multiple regions across Russia.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said air defense had shot down drones approaching the capital, and later reported that the total number intercepted had risen to 76. According to him, emergency workers were operating at the sites where drone debris had fallen; he gave no further details.

Russian aviation authorities temporarily restricted operations at the Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports near Moscow overnight, citing concerns over flight safety. Temporary restrictions were also reported at other airports, including Saratov, as the attacks continued.

The Kyiv Independent writes that it did not immediately verify the Russian claims.

The attacks came after the Russian Defense Ministry had earlier claimed that air defense had intercepted and destroyed 288 Ukrainian drones between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. (local time) on September 19 over multiple regions, including the Moscow region, as well as occupied Crimea and the Black Sea.

According to the ministry, the drones were intercepted over the Belgorod, Kursk, Bryansk, Kaluga, Oryol, Tula, Ryazan, Nizhny Novgorod and Vladimir regions, the Moscow region, Krasnodar Krai, occupied Crimea and the Black Sea.

Source: The Kyiv Independent