Moscow targeted in ‘massive’ Ukrainian drone assault, mayor says 250 downed

MOSCOW

Ukraine has launched the largest drone attack against the Russian capital in the history of the conflict, with approximately 250 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) shot down on their approach to Moscow over the past two days, according to data published by Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.

On Saturday, 65 drones were shot down, and on Sunday, 54 UAVs were destroyed.

Another 42 drones were eliminated between 2 am and 11 am Moscow time (2300–0800GMT) on March 16, Sobyanin wrote on Telegram.

"Over the past two days, air defense forces have destroyed about 250 enemy drones directly on the approach to Moscow and on the second defensive line towards Moscow," he wrote.

On March 11, 2025, Sobyanin reported that "the most massive attack by enemy drones on Moscow had been repelled." At that time, according to him, 74 drones were shot down on the approach to Moscow, with hundreds more eliminated at various defensive lines.

Additionally, 55 drones heading for the capital were destroyed between May 5–7. Another similar attack occurred in September, when 46 drones were destroyed over the Moscow region on September 22–23.

Ukrainian officials have not commented on the claims, while independent verification remains difficult due to the ongoing war.