Ukraine launches large-scale drone attack on multiple Russian regions Child killed, parents injured

A child was killed and his parents left in critical condition after Ukrainian forces launched a large-scale overnight drone attack on several regions of Russia, according to Russian authorities.

Moscow said more than 100 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were shot down, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media on Telegram.

The wave of attacks reportedly began at around 00:20 local time.

In the Smolensk region, explosions were heard near the town of Vyazma. Local residents reported a small fire near a residential building in one district.

In the Yaroslavl region, explosions began at approximately 00:53 local time, with residents reporting more than 10 loud blasts. Witnesses said they heard what they described as a persistent engine noise in the sky before the explosions. Drone debris fell near a residential building in the city of Yaroslavl, damaging a Magnit grocery store and sparking a fire. Windows in nearby apartment buildings were shattered. 

Regional authorities said a drone struck a private home in a residential area of the Yaroslavl district, killing a child. His parents were critically injured, and a neighbour was also wounded in the blast.

In the Samara region, explosions were reported in the cities of Chapaevsk and Novokuybyshevsk. Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said a missile alert had been declared but reported no casualties or damage to residential or public buildings.

Authorities in the Moscow region said two Ukrainian UAVs were shot down as they approached the capital. Residents in the towns of Istra and Dubna reported hearing explosions. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said emergency services were working at crash sites and that there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

In the Leningrad region, officials said 18 drones were intercepted overnight, marking the fourth consecutive day of reported UAV activity there. No casualties or damage were reported.

In the Rostov region, authorities said air defence systems destroyed a drone and a missile in the Chertkovsky and Sholokhovsky districts during what they described as an attempted air attack.

Missile alerts were also declared in the Penza, Orenburg and Samara regions, as well as in Udmurtia and Perm Krai.

Russia’s aviation authorities imposed temporary restrictions at 13 airports due to the UAV threat.

By Sabina Mammadli