Russian air defense systems have detected and neutralized 21 UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) in the Moscow region, of which at least 5 were intercepted while flying towards the Russian capital, according to local officials.
Moscow Governor Andrey Vorobyov on the evening of December 30 (local time) said on Telegram that UAVs had been shot down in 7 localities including Ruzsky, Volokolamsky, Odintsovo, Mozhaysky, Narofominsky, Istra and Chekhov, and affirmed that air defense forces would continue to intercept other targets.
A 57-year-old man was injured when a UAV crashed and exploded in Pagubino village, Volokolamsky district. The victim was fractured in the back and arm, was assessed to be moderately injured and was taken to the trauma center after first aid at the scene.
Meanwhile, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin announced that he had destroyed 5 UAVs flying towards the capital. Flights at Vnukovo airport were temporarily suspended as a precaution.
The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed that air defense systems had destroyed at least 24 more Ukrainian UAVs between 8 pm and 11 pm. Among these, 14 were shot down in the skies of Kaluga province, 5 in Crimea, 3 in Belgorod, and 1 in each Tula and Kursk province.
In recent months, Ukraine has regularly conducted UAV attacks deep into Russian territory, targeting key infrastructure and residential areas - actions that Moscow describes as "terrorist" attacks in a forced situation.
This raid took place after an attack on the residence of President Vladimir Putin in Novgorod province on the night of December 28, early morning of December 29. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called this an act of "state terrorism".
Moscow declared it would have a "non-diplomatic" response to the incident. Previously, Russia had launched airstrikes targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure, saying the goal was to reduce Kiev's UAV and weapons production capacity.
