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Moscow hit by largest drone attack of 2026, authorities say
Russia was attacked by about 300 Ukrainian drones over the course of the day. Of those, 65 were heading toward Moscow, Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Saturday, March 14.
“From 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Moscow time, air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 280 Ukrainian fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles over the territories of the Bryansk, Kaluga, Belgorod, Tver, Smolensk, Kursk regions, Krasnodar Krai, and the Moscow region,” the statement reads.
Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that 47 UAVs were headed toward Moscow. Later, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported the alleged destruction of another 15 UAVs flying toward the capital.
At least 66 Ukrainian drones headed toward Moscow were destroyed by Russian air defense forces, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Telegram on Saturday, March 14.
According to Russian authorities, all of the drones were shot down in less than 12 hours. The attack was the largest targeting the Russian capital since the start of the year, according to Russian state news agency TASS. “Emergency services specialists are working at the sites where debris fell,” Sobyanin said.
Temporary restrictions were introduced on arrivals and departures at Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports, according to the Telegram channel of Russia’s federal air transport agency, Rosaviatsiya. Earlier in the day, flight restrictions were also in place at Vnukovo airport.
According to the Telegram channel Mash, drones were spotted in Moscow’s Troitsky district. In Korolyov, just outside Moscow, a local resident said he saw a Ukrainian drone being shot down about 200 meters away. Two drones were reportedly destroyed near the Central Ring Road. Explosions were also heard in the Krasnopakhorsky district, Dubna and Volokolamsk.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said separately on Telegram that 47 drones flying toward Moscow had been destroyed. Between 11:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Moscow time, a total of 280 Ukrainian drones were intercepted over the Bryansk, Kaluga, Belgorod, Tver, Smolensk and Kursk regions, as well as Krasnodar territory and the Moscow region, the ministry said.
On the evening of December 10 and overnight into December 11, 2025, air defense forces shot down 32 drones headed toward the capital. Before that, on October 27, Russian air defenses said they destroyed 32 drones in the same direction over a 24-hour period.
