Russian authorities on Monday said defence forces had repelled four drones heading towards Moscow, days before foreign leaders were due to gather for a military parade on the capital’s Red Square, APA reports citing my News.
Defence forces in the district of Podolsk “repelled an attack of four drones flying towards Moscow”, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said in a post on Telegram.
There were no initial reports of damage or casualties at the site where the debris had fallen, Sobyanin said, adding that emergency services specialists were working at the scene.
A total of 26 Ukrainian drones targeting Russian territory were destroyed overnight, Russia’s defence ministry said on Monday.
In addition to the drones downed on their approach to Moscow, 17 drones were destroyed over the Bryansk region and five over the Kaluga region, the ministry said in a post on the Telegram messaging app.
The governors of the Kaluga region which borders the Moscow region to its northeast, and the Bryansk region that borders Ukraine, said on social media that there were no injuries or damage reported.
Russia is staging a military parade on Red Square and an address by President Vladimir Putin on May 9 as part of its World War II anniversary celebrations.
Foreign leaders expected to attend include Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
The conflict in Ukraine often feels distant in the Russian capital, where life has continued as Moscow’s military advances and attacks Ukrainian cities.
Ukraine has previously targeted Moscow, but deadly strikes so far away from the front lines are rare.
In March, Russia’s defence ministry said it had shot down 337 drones in a “massive” attack across the country, including 91 around the capital.
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