Moscow, Russia. During the night of June 18 and into the morning, Russian air defense forces repelled one of the largest drone attacks on the country’s regions since the beginning of the year. According to authorities, nearly 200 UAVs were destroyed over the Moscow region alone. Residential buildings, commercial facilities and industrial infrastructure sustained damage, while one person was killed and others were injured in the Rostov region.
Attack on Moscow and the Moscow Region
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that the first notifications of intercepted drones were received at approximately 04:36 Moscow time. By morning, the number of UAVs shot down while approaching the capital had reached 194.
According to Russian media estimates, this was the largest drone attack on Moscow in the past two years. The previous record was set on May 17, when 81 drones were destroyed over the metropolitan region.
Several drones reached the territory of the Moscow Oil Refinery in the Kapotnya district. Authorities said response teams were working to deal with the aftermath. Witnesses also reported several sources of smoke in the vicinity of the facility.
Fragments of one drone fell on the grounds of the Sadovod shopping center. One of the complex’s buildings sustained damage. According to preliminary information, no injuries were reported.
Transport and Airport Restrictions
Following the attack, temporary traffic restrictions were introduced on several streets in southeastern Moscow, including sections of the Moscow Ring Road (MKAD). Public transport routes in the Kapotnya area were also adjusted.
All airports in the Moscow aviation hub temporarily suspended operations. Media reports indicated that around 250 flights were affected by delays.
At Sheremetyevo Airport, passengers were temporarily directed to shelters, including those evacuated from aircraft. Restrictions were later lifted and passengers returned to the terminals.
Aeroflot advised passengers whose flights had been canceled not to travel to airports and instead arrange refunds or ticket rebooking remotely.
Damage Across the Moscow Region
Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyov reported damage in several municipalities.
In Zhukovsky, a drone struck an apartment building on Gagarin Street. A fire escape between the 23rd and 24th floors and two balcony slabs were damaged. Residents were evacuated, and no injuries were reported.
In Elektrostal, debris from a downed drone damaged the roof of a private home in the village of Stepanovo. A woman suffered a minor shoulder injury but declined hospitalization. In a separate incident, a car caught fire after being struck by falling debris, though firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze.
In Lyubertsy, a fitness center and a facility in an industrial zone sustained damage. No casualties were reported.
In Kotelniki, drone debris struck the roof of the MEGA Belaya Dacha shopping center, triggering a fire. The shopping center temporarily suspended operations.
In the Chekhov district, a drone hit a country house in the village of Masnovo-Zhukovo, destroying the building and several outbuildings. In the settlement of Kryukovo, debris fell onto several residential plots.
In Pavlovsky Posad, two country houses caught fire in the Druzhba gardening association after being hit by a UAV. According to preliminary reports, there were no casualties.
Scale of the Attack Across Russia
Russia’s Ministry of Defense stated that air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 555 drones overnight over 17 regions, Crimea and the waters of the Sea of Azov.
Drones were reportedly shot down over the Astrakhan, Belgorod, Bryansk, Volgograd, Vladimir, Voronezh, Kaluga, Kursk, Lipetsk, Moscow, Oryol, Rostov, Ryazan, Smolensk, Tambov, Tver and Tula regions.
According to authorities in the Rostov region, approximately 60 drones were destroyed over Kamensk-Shakhtinsky and five surrounding districts. One person was killed and two others were injured in the city of Gukovo. A locomotive was damaged, and two commercial properties caught fire.
In the Bryansk region, regional authorities reported that air defense forces destroyed 113 drones.
One of the Largest Attacks of the Year
In terms of the number of drones involved, the attack was among the largest recorded since the beginning of 2026. A comparable attack occurred on May 17, when Russian air defenses intercepted and destroyed 556 UAVs over various regions of the country.
