Explosions Rock Moscow in Brazen Early-Morning Drone Attack

rbc:  In a recent incident on July 30, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin of Moscow reported an attack on the city by Ukrainian drones. According to the mayor, minor damage was inflicted on the facades of two office towers in Moscow City, but fortunately, there were no casualties. However, TASS later mentioned that a guard was injured in the Oko-2 tower located at 1st Krasnogvardeysky Ave., 19.

In addition to the attack on the office towers, an explosion was reported in a 50-storey building in the IQ quarter at Presnenskaya Embankment, 10c2. Channel 112 reported that a drone had crashed into the tower around the sixth-seventh floors, resulting in broken glazing and necessitating an evacuation. Traffic in the "Moscow City" area on Testovskaya Street was blocked as per the Department of Transport's information.

The IQ quarter encompasses a government complex housing various ministries and departments, such as the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Finance, the Federal Agency for Nationalities, Rosaccreditation, and Rosstandart. There were reports from the telegram channel "Caution, Moscow" that the Ministry of Finance's documentation was affected by an explosive wave.

Moreover, law enforcement agencies reported that air defense measures successfully downed two aircraft-type drones in the west of the Moscow region. Authorities are currently investigating the intended targets of these drones, and 112 reported similar downed UAVs in Odintsovo and Krasnogorsk.

In response to the security situation, temporary restrictions on aircraft presence in the air were imposed in Moscow and the Moscow region. Vnukovo airport experienced temporary closure for both departures and arrivals, leading to flight redirection to alternative airports. However, the restrictions were later lifted, and Vnukovo resumed its operations.

During July, the capital region faced multiple drone attacks. On July 28, Mayor Sobyanin and the Defense Ministry announced the successful repulsion of one of these attacks, although the exact location was not specified.

On a previous occasion, on July 24, two drones struck uninhabited buildings in Moscow at Komsomolsky Avenue, 17, and a business center on Likhachev Avenue. The Ministry of Defense stated that electronic warfare had suppressed both drones, leading to their crash. The agency attributed the incident to the Ukrainian authorities.

The situation remains tense, and authorities are continuing to monitor and respond to potential threats.