The capital region of Russia has been subjected to a combined air attack involving unmanned aerial vehicles and small air balloons. Loud explosion sounds and the operation of air defense systems were clearly heard by residents of the southern and eastern districts of Moscow, as well as the near Moscow region.
Chronology and Geography of the Incident
According to specialized monitoring channels and reports from local residents on social media, the active phase of air defense operations was observed in densely populated areas of the capital such as Kapotnya, Kuzminki, Lyublino, Maryino, Tsaritsyno, Chertanovo, Orekhovo-Borisovo, Tekstilshchiki, and Nagatinsky Zaton. The combined nature of the raid significantly complicated interception tasks for air defense forces.
Security Measures and Transport Collapse
Due to real threats to civil aviation safety, the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) was forced to urgently introduce the special 'Carpet' plan at all four key airports of the Moscow aviation hub — Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Zhukovsky, and Sheremetyevo. This regime imposed a temporary complete ban on aircraft arrivals and departures, resulting in massive flight delays.
Context of Regular Attacks on the Region
The capital region regularly faces aerial incidents. A large-scale attack was previously recorded on the night of October 6, when strike drones targeted infrastructure facilities, including the Moscow Oil Refinery in Kapotnya. Analysts note that such incidents clearly demonstrate the vulnerability of the capital region to modern aerial attack weapons.
