Moscow can no longer consider itself safe from the most serious conflict in Europe since the Second World War. Like other Russian cities, normally near the border with Ukraine, since Tuesday it has been the target of enemy drones. Air defense shot down some of the drones that reached the Russian capital, but others hit several residential buildings. According to the mayor of the Russian capital, Sergei Sobyanin, there is minor damage. Some internet channels talk about some injured.
The drone attack occurred “early in the morning” on May 30, the city councilor reported on his Telegram channel. As a result of the attack, “several buildings suffered minor damage,” he said. Emergency services are on the scene and “so far, no one has been seriously injured,” he added.
Anti-aircraft systems shoot down 13 aircraft
At least two residential buildings were affected, in two important streets of the city: Lenin (or Léninski) avenue and Trade Union (Profsoyúznaya) street. “Some apartments have broken window panes,” a witness was quoted as saying by the Tass agency.
According to the Telegram channel “Shot”, another device caused damage to yet another street, in the town of Moskovski, near the Vnukovo airport.
The city’s defense systems shot down 13 drones in various parts of the city.
Participants, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, attend a military parade on Victory Day, which marks the 78th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia May 9, 2023. Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/ Pool via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.
“For security reasons, during the work of the emergency services, measures were carried out to evacuate residents from several entrances in two buildings affected by the impact of a drone. Immediately after the completion of the special services , residents will be able to return to their apartments,” added the mayor.
According to the Telegram channel “112”, a drone hit an apartment on Lenin Avenue on a 14th floor. The drone was carrying three explosive devices. Mash writes that three people were injured.
The authorities of the Moscow Province, which surrounds the capital but is a different entity, have also been put on alert. “This morning, residents of some areas of the Moscow region could hear the sounds of explosions. Our air defense is working. Approaching Moscow, several drones were shot down. I ask the inhabitants to remain calm. All emergency services are working. We will report,” wrote its governor, Andrei Vorobyov.
It is not the first time that a drone has reached the capital or the province. But yes, perhaps the time that the Ukrainian drones have hit the hardest.
At the beginning of the month, on May 3, two drones reached the Kremlin. No one was hurt, there was no damage. Russian President Vladimir Putin was not in the compound at the time of the attack. The president’s office said what happened was “a planned terrorist act and assassination attempt on the president” by the “Kyiv regime.”
