Moscow: Ukraine struck Moscow and western Russia in one of the largest-ever attacks including over 140 drones, killing at least one woman, wrecking dozens of homes and forcing the closure of major airports in the capital, according to Russian officials. Most of the drones were shot down by Russia - 20 over Moscow and 124 in other regions.
Three of Moscow's four airports were closed for air traffic following the attacks, Russia's aviation authority Rosaviatsia said, as 48 flights were diverted to other airports. A major road leading to the capital was partially closed. The drone attacks damaged at least two high-rise apartment buildings in the Ramenskoye district of the Moscow region, setting flats on fire, said Moscow's governor Andrei Vorobyov.
A 46-year-old woman was killed in the attack in Ramenskoye in Moscow, while three others were wounded. Vorobyov said 43 people were evacuated to temporary accommodation centres. Social media videos showed flames bursting out of windows of a multi-storey residential building, saying that dozens of flats were damaged in the Ramenskoye district.
"I looked at the window and saw a ball of fire," Alexander Li, a resident of the district told Reuters. "The window got blown out by the shockwave." The Ramenskoye district, some 50 kms (31 miles) southeast of the Kremlin, has a population of around a quarter a million of people, according to official data.
Ukraine keeps up the pressure on Russia
As Russia advances in eastern Ukraine, Kyiv has been trying to take the war to Russia with a bold attack on Russia's western Kursk region on August 6 and increasingly large drone attacks deep into Russian territory. On September 1, the Russian military said it intercepted 158 Ukrainian drones over a dozen Russian regions in what Russian media described as the biggest Ukrainian drone barrage since the start of the war.
Ukraine says it has a right to strike deep into Russia, which invaded Ukraine in 2022, though Kyiv's Western backers have repeatedly said they do not want the war to escalate into a direct confrontation between Russia and the US-led NATO military alliance. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine about Tuesday's attacks. Both sides deny targeting civilians yet thousands have been killed in attacks from both sides.
Ukraine's domestic drone industry has been growing rapidly and Kyiv has been stepping up drone attacks on Russian energy, military and transport infrastructure. Ukraine's September 1 attack targeted power plants and a refinery near Moscow.
On the battlefield, Ukraine is waiting to see whether the military's gamble with its surprise thrust into Russia's Kursk border region a month ago pays dividends. Meanwhile, outgunned Ukrainian soldiers are gradually being pushed backwards by Russia's monthslong drive deeper into eastern Ukraine, and Ukrainian civilians are at the mercy of Russia's deadly long-range aerial strikes.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy has replaced several of his Cabinet members in an apparent effort towards "new energy" as the war with Russia has reached a critical juncture. Andrii Sybiha, a former ambassador to Turkey, is the country's new foreign minister, replacing Dmytro Kuleba. Other changes included the heads of strategic industries, justice, natural resources and farming.
Ukraine's power grid is under severe strain after Russian missiles and drones knocked out around 70% of the country's generation capacity. That could mean going without heat and water. Kyiv officials will also have to navigate the result of the US election in November, which could produce important policy shifts in Washington.
(with inputs from agencies)
