Russian air defense systems were activated overnight to repel several attacks on Moscow, prompting the closure of two of the city’s four airports, Russian authorities said on Monday. During a five-hour period that began shortly before 10:00 p.m. local time (19:00 GMT) on Sunday, Russian defense forces shot down 28 drones, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on the Telegram messaging app, a Reuters report noted.
Two civilians were hospitalized in Russia’s Bryansk region on Sunday after Ukrainian drone strikes, regional governor Alexander Bogomaz said, according to Al Jazeera. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said 16 people were injured in Ukrainian drone attacks in the western Belgorod region.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Rosaviatsiya Aviation Authority said Domodedovo Airport, a major hub, and the smaller Zhukovsky Airport were closed from 2240 GMT to ensure flight safety, according to a Reuters report. Information on possible damage was not available. Kiev has said its attacks target Russian infrastructure critical to Moscow’s military operations in Ukraine.
Russian drone attack against Ukraine
Russia launched 101 drones against Ukraine overnight into Sunday, the Ukrainian air force said, with 90 of them shot down and neutralized, Al Jazeera reported. Five drones hit four locations and debris from the drones landed in five other locations, the statement said. Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said “several” Russian drones were active over the city and urged residents to “remain in shelters”.
He added on Telegram that debris from drones hit a nine-story residential building in the northeastern Desnyansky district and caused fires in multi-story apartments.
According to the report, debris also hit another nine-story building in the same neighborhood, where five people were rescued, Klitschko said, adding that “dismantling of structures continues.” Additional debris from the drone hit a 16-story residential block in the Obolonsky district of northern Kyiv, damaging an apartment, he said.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday that “decisive tests have now been completed” for Russia’s new nuclear-powered Burevestnik missile. He said this during a televised meeting with military officials released by the Kremlin.
Putin ordered the military to prepare the necessary “infrastructure for putting this weapon into service in the Russian Armed Forces.” He described the rocket as “a unique creation that no one else in the world has” and noted that the Burevestnik boasts “unlimited range”.
The chief of the Russian General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, said the missile flew for about 15 hours and traveled 14,000 kilometers (8,700 miles) in the latest test conducted on Tuesday, although he stressed that this distance was not the weapon’s maximum capability.
Putin first revealed the development of the Burevestnik missiles in 2018, citing what he saw as growing threats from the United States, saying the weapon was designed to bypass all existing defense systems.
(This is a developing story. More to come)
