Over 200 Ukrainian drones were launched toward the Moscow region overnight into Thursday, with most of them neutralized by air defense systems at a distance, according to Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin. Ten drones were destroyed as they approached the capital.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated that its forces downed at least 375 Ukrainian drones overnight, intercepting them over 18 Russian regions, including Moscow, as well as Crimea, the Black Sea, and the Sea of Azov. ABC News cannot independently verify the figures provided by either the mayor or the Defense Ministry.
This marks a significant increase in Ukraine's drone campaign targeting Russian territory. Sobyanin reported that over the previous seven days, more than 1,200 Ukrainian drones were directed toward Moscow, with at least 191 shot down near the city. This year, Sobyanin has reported the downing of 1,420 Ukrainian drones approaching Moscow, a considerable rise from the 734 reported throughout 2025.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indicated Kyiv's intention to bring the war back to Russian soil, targeting major cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg. "Our responses to Russia's prolonging of the war and strikes on our cities and communities are completely fair," Zelenskyy stated in May. "The Moscow region has Russia's densest concentration of air defenses. But we are getting through."
In addition to the Moscow region, Ukrainian attacks reportedly targeted the Engels-2 airbase in Saratov, a key site for Russian long-range aviation. Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Counter-Disinformation Center of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, posted that "Engels is on fire."
Temporary flight restrictions were implemented at Saratov airport and several others, including Nizhny Novgorod, Penza, Samara, Ivanovo, Yaroslavl, Cherepovets, and Gelendzhik, due to the overnight attacks. Flights from all four of Moscow's international airports also faced temporary restrictions.
Meanwhile, Russia continued its own long-range strikes against Ukraine. Ukraine's air force reported that Russia launched 18 missiles and 146 drones into the country overnight. Of these, 12 missiles and 129 drones were intercepted, suppressed, or failed to reach their targets. Six missiles and 16 drones impacted across 15 locations. Zelenskyy reported that at least two people were killed and five injured by a Russian missile strike in Kyiv, with other regions including Kharkiv, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia also targeted. "Moscow is relying on terror through ballistic missiles and continues its attacks," Zelenskyy said.