Russia-Ukraine War: Moscow Destroys 144 Drones, 1 Casualty

144 Enemy Drones Destroyed Over Moscow, 1 Reported Dead

Russia's defense ministry reported that its air defenses intercepted 144 drones, with the majority (72)...

Russia-Ukraine War: Moscow intercepts 144 Ukrainian drones, resulting in 1 death and disruptions. Kremlin vows to continue military operations as conflict intensifies.

Russia's defense systems intercepted and destroyed 144 Ukrainian drones in a nationwide counterattack on September 9, following a wave of strikes that claimed the life of one woman and sparked fires in residential areas, as well as disrupted air travel in Moscow.

Moscow Governor Andrei Vorobyov reported that two high-rise buildings in Ramenskoye suffered apartment fires, resulting in a 46-year-old woman's death, three injuries, and the evacuation of 43 residents to temporary shelters.

The Kremlin has seized on the incident as evidence of Ukraine's adversarial stance towards Russia, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stating that the attack underscores the need for Russia to continue its military operations in Ukraine. Ukraine has yet to comment on the incident.

Russia's defense ministry reported that its air defenses intercepted 144 drones, with the majority (72) detected over the Bryansk region, 20 over Moscow, and 14 over Kursk. The ministry also confirmed that the drone attacks led to the closure of four Moscow airports and the suspension of over 30 flights.

State media reported that the drone strikes caused disruptions to air travel in Moscow, with multiple flights grounded. Meanwhile, Russia's aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, announced on Telegram that it had gained control of at least three villages in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region.

The Russian defense ministry also declared that its forces had “liberated” the town of Krasnohorivka in the Donetsk region, marking a claimed territorial gain in the ongoing conflict.

The Ukrainian Air Force reported intercepting 38 out of 46 Russian-launched Shahed-type attack drones, downing them over various regions and cities including Kyiv, Odesa, Kherson, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Poltava. Additionally, Ukraine's air defenses countered a Russian Iskander-M ballistic missile and a Kh-31 air-to-surface missile.

Ukraine and Russia regularly exchange overnight drone attacks, with the latest wave coinciding with Moscow's claims of advancements in eastern Ukraine. Russia has reportedly captured two villages, Memryk and Novohrodivka, near the strategic town of Pokrovsk, although Kyiv has not commented. Sources suggest Ukrainian forces withdrew from Novohrodivka.

This month, Russia has intensified its strikes on Ukrainian cities like Lviv, Poltava, and Kharkiv, following Ukraine's offensive into the Kursk region last month. The escalating drone attacks and territorial claims highlight the ongoing conflict's intensity.