Moscow air defenses down dozens of drones in sustained overnight attack

MOSCOW, June 18. Russian air defense systems have conducted multiple successive interceptions of unmanned aerial vehicles targeting Moscow throughout the night of June 17-18, according to announcements by Mayor Sergey Sobyanin. The Defense Ministry's air defenses repelled waves of drone attacks on the capital, with officials confirming the destruction of numerous aircraft in coordinated operations. Sobyanin reported the downings via the Max messenger app in a series of updates tracking the ongoing defensive action. Emergency personnel were deployed to multiple sites across the city where debris from intercepted drones fell. The sustained nature of the attack and the sequential interception reports suggest a coordinated assault on the Russian capital, met with what officials characterized as an effective defensive response. By the early morning hours of June 18, air defense forces had reported destroying a significant number of drones, with cumulative tallies reaching into the dozens according to official statements. The incident reflects the ongoing use of drone warfare in the broader conflict affecting the region, with unmanned systems playing an increasingly prominent role in aerial operations near major urban centers.