On Sunday, September 20, 2026, Russian authorities reported a large-scale drone attack on Moscow and surrounding areas, resulting in two fatalities and several injuries. The attack caused damage to residential buildings and facilities, including a Moscow oil refinery. The incident led to security restrictions, disrupting air traffic in the capital. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated that air defense forces destroyed 152 drones heading towards the capital.
The drone attack caused significant disruptions to air traffic in Moscow. According to the Tass agency, over 30 flights were unable to land at Moscow's airports due to security restrictions. Reports indicated that around 25 planes heading to Sheremetyevo airport were diverted to alternative airports, including St. Petersburg, Kazan, Samara, and Nizhny Novgorod. Meanwhile, about 10 flights to Vnukovo airport were unable to land.
In the Moscow region, Governor Andrei Vorobyov reported that air defense and electronic warfare systems intercepted or downed 249 drones. The attacks resulted in the deaths of an elderly man in Orekhovo-Zuyevo and a woman in Sofrino, as well as injuries to five others, including two children. An additional injury was reported in the Leninsky district.
The drone attack also caused damage to various facilities and buildings. In Moscow, Sobyanin reported that a drone struck a building near Orikhovy street, while a facility belonging to the Moscow oil refinery was damaged, but no injuries were reported. In Ramenskoye, a 21-story residential building caught fire after being hit by a drone, prompting the evacuation of around 400 people.
The attack led to several fires and damages in various areas. A warehouse complex in Sofrino caught fire, with eight firefighting teams deployed to control the blaze. Additionally, damages were reported to a residential building and industrial facility in Istra, as well as in Voskresensk.
Moscow Mayor Sobyanin had previously announced on Saturday, September 19, that 186 drones were intercepted approaching Moscow between September 12 and 19. He stated that over 2,000 drones had headed towards the Moscow region during the same period, with most being intercepted at distances further away from the capital.
The recent drone attacks on Moscow have raised concerns about the security situation in the region. The Russian authorities have been working to strengthen air defense systems and prevent similar incidents in the future. The investigation into the attacks is ongoing, with authorities working to determine the origin and motives behind the drone strikes.
Key points
- Two people were killed and several injured in a large-scale drone attack on Moscow and surrounding areas.
- The attack caused significant disruptions to air traffic, with over 30 flights unable to land at Moscow's airports.
- Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that 152 drones were destroyed heading towards the capital.
