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Russia says it downed 73 Ukrainian drones, including 3 flying to Moscow

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on July 18, 2025

1 min read

· Last updated: January 22, 2026

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(Reuters) -Russian air defences destroyed two Ukrainian drones headed for Moscow late on Thursday, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said. Sobyanin, writing on the Telegram messaging app, made no mention of

Russia Claims Destruction of 73 Ukrainian Drones, Including 3 Targeting Moscow

(Reuters) -Russian air defences destroyed 73 Ukrainian drones overnight, including three heading for Moscow, Russia's defence ministry said on Friday. 

Most of the drones were downed over Russia's southwestern regions, including 31 over the Bryansk region that borders Ukraine, the ministry said on the Telegram messaging app. 

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, writing on Telegram, made no mention of casualties or damage, but said emergency services were examining the area where drone fragments fell to the ground. 

The federal aviation agency, Rosaviatsia, briefly ordered the suspension of operations at two airports near the capital, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky, but services were later resumed.

Operations were halted well after midnight at a third Moscow airport, Vnukovo before being reinstated by the morning.

There was no immediate comment from Ukraine about the attacks. Kyiv says that its strikes inside Russia are necessary to destroy infrastructure key to Moscow's efforts in its war against Ukraine, now in its fourth year. 

(Reporting by Ronald Popeski and Lidia Kelly; Editing by Sandra Maler, Matthew Lewis and Saad Sayeed)

Key Takeaways

  • Russia claims to have destroyed 73 Ukrainian drones overnight.
  • Three drones were reportedly heading towards Moscow.
  • Most drones were downed in Russia's southwestern regions.
  • Airports near Moscow briefly suspended operations.
  • No immediate comment from Ukraine on the attacks.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Ukrainian drones did Russia claim to have downed?
Russia's defense ministry stated that they destroyed 73 Ukrainian drones overnight.
Where were most of the drones downed?
Most drones were intercepted over Russia's southwestern regions, particularly 31 over the Bryansk region.
What action did Moscow's federal aviation agency take?
The federal aviation agency, Rosaviatsia, briefly suspended operations at two airports near Moscow due to the drone threat.
Did Ukraine comment on the drone attacks?
There was no immediate comment from Ukraine regarding the attacks, but Kyiv has stated that its strikes are necessary for its war efforts.
What did Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin report?
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin mentioned that emergency services were examining the area where drone fragments had fallen, but he did not report any casualties or damage.

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