Moscow targeted in biggest drone strike since invasion of Ukraine

Russian law enforcement officers inspect the wreckage of a drone next to a burnt-out car in the courtyard of residential buildings following a drone attack in the village of Sofyino (AFP via Getty Images)
Russian law enforcement officers inspect the wreckage of a drone next to a burnt-out car in the courtyard of residential buildings following a drone attack in the village of Sofyino (AFP via Getty Images)

Moscow has been hit by the biggest drone strike since the invasion of Ukraine.

At least 34 drones attacked the Russian capital on Sunday, forcing flights to be diverted from three of the city's major airports and injuring at least five people.

Russia’s defence ministry said that another 50 drones had been destroyed over other regions of Western Russia.

Authorities diverted 36 flights from the airports of Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo and Zhukovsky in response to the attack, but operations had resumed by Sunday evening.

Local governor Andrei Vorobyov said that a woman in her 50s had suffered burns to her face, neck and hands after drone strikes sparked a blaze in her village southeast of Moscow.

"An attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack using plane-type drones on the territory of the Russian Federation was thwarted," the Russian defence ministry said.

Kyiv has been the target of repeated mass drone strikes from Russian forces and has tried to strike back against its neighbour with repeated drone strikes against oil refineries, airfields and even Russian strategic early-warning radar stations.

The news comes amid growing fears in Kyiv that US military aid could be cut by president-elect Donald Trump following his election victory.

Mr Trump and vice president-elect JD Vance have repeatedly criticised the Biden administration for funding Ukraine’s resistance against the Russian invasion.

Mr Trump has promised to end the war in Ukraine “in one day” by negotiating a peace deal that could see Kyiv forced to give up swathes of land captured by Vladimir Putin’s forces.