Russian air defence downs three drones heading for Moscow, Sobyanin says
In short
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on 20 October that Defence Ministry air defence systems destroyed three drones flying toward the capital. Emergency specialists were working at the site where debris fell. Kommersant said no damage or casualties were reported.
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Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on 20 October that air defence systems of the Defence Ministry destroyed three drones that were flying toward the capital. According to RIA Novosti, Interfax and Vedomosti, he wrote that emergency specialists were working at the place where the debris fell. TASS, RIA Novosti, RBC, Kommersant, Interfax and Vedomosti all published the report between 22:42 and 23:34 local time. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
RBC, Kommersant and Vedomosti described the drones as Ukrainian. Kommersant wrote that no damage or casualties were reported and noted that the mayor had not reported destroyed drones earlier in the day. The outlets differ on where Sobyanin posted: Interfax cited his channel in Max, while Vedomosti cited his Telegram channel. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Vedomosti added reports on other drone attacks. It wrote that on 20 October Kursk region governor Alexander Khinshtein said a Ukrainian aircraft-type drone attacked an energy facility in the Oktyabrsky district. Three men were injured; one declined hospitalisation and two were taken to Kursk. [ 6 ]
Vedomosti also reported that in the night to 20 October air defence shot down 136 Ukrainian aircraft-type drones over 15 Russian regions, including the Moscow region. Between 08:00 and 20:00 Moscow time on 19 October, Russian forces downed 13 such drones over the Belgorod and Kursk regions, Crimea and the Perm region, it wrote. [ 6 ]
Why it matters
The reports show drones being intercepted on approach to Moscow, with Russian outlets also citing further drone attacks on other regions the same day. The documents give no information on damage in the capital beyond Kommersant's note that none was reported.
Key facts
- Sobyanin said Defence Ministry air defence systems destroyed three drones that were flying toward Moscow. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
- Emergency specialists are working at the site where the debris fell, according to Sobyanin's statement. [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 ]
- RBC, Kommersant and Vedomosti described the drones as Ukrainian. [ 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Kommersant wrote that no damage or casualties were reported. [ 4 ]
- Vedomosti reported that air defence shot down 136 Ukrainian aircraft-type drones over 15 Russian regions in the night to 20 October. [ 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether the attack caused damage or injuries in Moscow. Only Kommersant addresses this, saying no damage or casualties were reported; other documents are silent.
- Where Sobyanin published the statement. Interfax cites his channel in Max, while Vedomosti cites his Telegram channel.
- The origin of the drones. RBC, Kommersant and Vedomosti call them Ukrainian; TASS, RIA Novosti and Interfax do not specify.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- TASS published that air defence forces shot down three drones flying toward Moscow. [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti published Sobyanin's statement on the three drones. [ 2 ]
- RBC reported the three drones were shot down on approach to Moscow. [ 3 ]
- Kommersant reported the interception and said no damage or casualties were reported. [ 4 ]
- Interfax quoted Sobyanin's statement. [ 5 ]
- Vedomosti published its report with details of other drone attacks on 19 and 20 October. [ 6 ]