Moscow airports closed after Ukrainian drones strike Russian military production facilities
In a large-scale overnight drone attack, Ukraine targeted military production facilities near Moscow, key production centers for the Kremlin’s war machine. Russian authorities claimed to have intercepted 296 drones, including 19 targeting Moscow, in what they admitted was one of the largest attacks since their illegal invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Unlike Russia’s relentless assaults on Ukrainian civilians, Ukraine’s strikes focused on strategic military and industrial targets, exposing the vulnerabilities of a regime that prioritizes aggression over defense.
In Moscow, Ukraine’s drones evaded Russia’s faltering air defenses, with debris hitting a highway and an apartment building. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin downplayed the damage, reporting no casualties, but the attack forced the closure of four major airports—Vnukovo, Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky—disrupting 350 flights and stranding 60,000 passengers.
Ukraine’s precision strikes targeted key defense industry sites:
JSC 'Elma' in Zelenograd, a critical microelectronics hub fueling Russia’s military, and the Kronstadt facility in Dubna, a producer of drones and cruise missiles used to terrorize Ukraine. These attacks aimed to cripple Russia’s ability to sustain its war effort.
Kronshtadt factory in Dubna, which specializes in unmanned aircraft systems. In particular, it manufactures the Orion, Inokhodets, Molniya, Grom, Termit, Helios, Sirius UAVs, and ground control systems.
MKB 'Raduga', a Russian aerospace company specializing in the development and production of cruise missiles of various classes, in particular the Kh-101/555, Kh-69, Kh-59MK missiles, which Russia uses to attack Ukrainians.
In contrast, Russia’s response that same night was characteristically brutal, launching 136 drones and missiles on Ukrainian cities like Kyiv, Kharkiv, Poltava, Sumy, and Odesa, killing at least four civilians and injuring dozens.
While Ukraine targets Russia’s military infrastructure, Moscow’s campaign of terror consistently strikes homes, schools, and hospitals, revealing the Kremlin’s disregard for human life.
In Kursk, Ukraine hit a power substation in Rylsk, damaging transformers and injuring two, further weakening Russia’s border defenses. Other regions, like Bryansk, faced drone attacks, with Russia’s Ministry of Defense claiming to have downed 524 drones in 24 hours—a likely exaggerated figure to mask their defensive failures.
Ukraine’s ongoing operations in Kursk, where its forces have held ground since August 2024, further humiliate Moscow’s claims of control. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov labeled Ukraine’s strikes “terrorism,” a hypocritical accusation from a regime that bombs Ukrainian civilians daily. Posts on social media revealed Russian frustration over inadequate air raid warnings.
Ukraine’s focus on Russia’s defense industry contrasts sharply with Moscow’s cowardly attacks on civilian populations. The drone assault not only disrupted Putin’s military supply chain but also shattered the illusion of Moscow’s invulnerability. As Russia struggles to protect its own territory, Ukraine’s resolve strengthens, proving that a nation fighting for survival can outmaneuver a decaying empire obsessed with conquest.
