Moscow mayor says 163 drones downed on approach to city, 630 sent toward region overnight
In short
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 630 drones flew toward the Moscow region between 20:30 on 21 October and 04:00 on 22 October. Air defences destroyed most of them on distant lines and 163 on approach to Moscow. Two people were injured in Moscow's Troitsky administrative district, and all Moscow airports halted work during the night, Kommersant reported.
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Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that 630 drones flew toward the Moscow region between 20:30 on 21 October and 04:00 on 22 October. RIA Novosti and Kommersant both relayed his figures. According to RIA Novosti, he wrote that most of the drones were destroyed by air defences on distant lines, and that 163 were neutralised on approach to Moscow. [ 2 , 3 ]
Interfax, in an earlier report published at 04:09, said Sobyanin had announced the destruction of another 73 drones flying toward the capital, raising their total number to 163. The agency cited his channel in Max. The documents differ in how they present the figure: Interfax describes 163 as the total of drones flying toward Moscow, while RIA Novosti and Kommersant describe it as the number destroyed on approach to the city out of 630 sent toward the region. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Kommersant reported that Sobyanin said two people were injured in Moscow's Troitsky administrative district. The newspaper added that Igor Artamonov, governor of the Lipetsk region, had earlier reported one injured when a drone struck a residential building. [ 3 ]
Interfax reported that Sobyanin said specialists of emergency services were working at the places where drone debris fell. Rosaviatsiya introduced restrictions at airports of the Moscow air hub to ensure flight safety, the agency said. [ 1 ]
Kommersant reported that during the night all Moscow airports halted work: Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky. [ 3 ]
The documents do not say who launched the drones, how many of the 630 were destroyed in all, or what damage occurred beyond the reported injuries. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The documents report a large overnight drone attack on the Moscow region, with injuries and disruption at the capital's airports. They give no information on the origin of the drones or on damage beyond the injuries.
Key facts
- Sobyanin said 630 drones flew toward the Moscow region from 20:30 on 21 October to 04:00 on 22 October. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Sobyanin said 163 drones were neutralised on approach to Moscow; most of the rest were destroyed by air defences on distant lines. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Interfax reported Sobyanin announced a further 73 drones destroyed, bringing the total to 163. [ 1 ]
- Two people were injured in Moscow's Troitsky administrative district, Sobyanin said. [ 3 ]
- Rosaviatsiya introduced restrictions at airports of the Moscow air hub to ensure flight safety. [ 1 ]
- Kommersant reported that Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky all halted work during the night. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- How many of the 630 drones were destroyed in total, and where the remainder were downed. The documents say only that most were destroyed on distant lines and that 163 were neutralised on approach to Moscow.
- The origin of the drones and the extent of any damage. None of the documents states who launched the drones or describes damage beyond the injuries.
- The wording of the 163 figure. Interfax describes 163 as the total of drones flying toward the capital, while RIA Novosti and Kommersant describe 163 as those destroyed on approach to Moscow out of 630 sent toward the region.
- Emergency service specialists are working at the sites where drone debris fell, according to Sobyanin's message cited by Interfax. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Period begins in which, per Sobyanin, 630 drones flew toward the Moscow region (21 October, Moscow time). [ 2 , 3 ]
- Period ends on 22 October covered by Sobyanin's count of 630 drones. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Interfax reports a further 73 drones destroyed, bringing the total to 163, and Rosaviatsiya restrictions at Moscow airports. [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti reports Sobyanin's figures of 630 drones toward the region and 163 neutralised on approach to Moscow. [ 2 ]
- Kommersant reports two injured in Troitsky administrative district and halts at all Moscow airports. [ 3 ]