Russia says it shot down Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow – World

Russia shot down at least three drones launched from Ukraine early Tuesday that were targeting the country’s capital, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The ministry said its air defense systems destroyed two drones over the Kaluga and Tver regions bordering the Moscow region, and one closer to the capital, over the Istra district of the Moscow region.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the drones “tried to carry out an attack on Moscow” and that a consumer services facility in the Istria district, located about 65 km (40 miles) northwest of the Kremlin, was damaged.

There was no damage or casualties elsewhere, the mayor’s defense ministry said. Reuters could not independently verify the reports.

Sobyanin said that the remnants of drones fell in the village of Zavidovo in the Tver region.

According to reports State press agency RIAZavidodvo is the home of “Rus”, the official residence of the Russian President.

The main residences of President Vladimir Putin are the Novo-Ogaryovo residence in the Moscow region and the Grand Kremlin Palace – where official events are held.

Russian news agencies reported that nearly 50 flights were canceled or postponed early Tuesday from four major airports around the capital – Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo and Zhukovsky.

Drone attacks on Russian targets, particularly in Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014, and in regions bordering Ukraine, have become a near-daily occurrence since two drones were shot down over the Kremlin in early May.

The attacks have disrupted flights to and from Moscow in recent weeks.

Ukraine rarely claims direct responsibility for such drone attacks, but says the destruction of Russian military infrastructure is helping a counteroffensive launched by Kiev in June.

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