Unprecedented drone offensive targets Moscow and multiple regions

In the early hours of January 24, Russian air defence forces intercepted and destroyed 121 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).

This marked the largest drone attack on Russian territory since the start of the year.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, the drones targeted multiple regions, including Moscow and the Moscow region, Caliber.Az reports referring to Russian media.

Among the regions affected, 37 drones were shot down over Bryansk, 20 over Ryazan, 17 over Kursk, 17 over Saratov, 7 over Rostov, 6 over Belgorod, and 3 over Voronezh. Additionally, two UAVs were intercepted over each of the Tula, Oryol, and Lipetsk regions, while single drones were destroyed over Crimea and Moscow. The Moscow region also saw six drones intercepted.

Flight operations were temporarily restricted in several Russian cities, including Moscow and its suburbs, as a result of the attacks.

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin confirmed that drone attacks targeting the capital and its surrounding areas were repelled. Several drones were intercepted in locations such as Podolsk, Kolomna, Ramenskoye, and Troitsk.

Reports from Russian Telegram channels indicate that the drones targeted industrial facilities, including the "Kremniy" factory in Bryansk, where debris from a downed UAV fell near production facilities and an oil refinery in Engels. Residents of the Saratov region reported hearing at least seven explosions in the sky before the drone attack.

Preliminary assessments suggest the Ukrainian military deployed long-range "Lyutyi" drones and 2.5-meter-long "Bober" kamikaze drones in the assault.

In Ryazan, a private home caught fire following the crash of a "Lyutyi" drone. Earlier reports also noted ten explosions in the vicinity of the oil refinery near Ryazan, further underscoring the scale of the attack.

By Tamilla Hasanova