The night of July 10 became a new test of resilience for the capital. The Russian air defense forces were forced to repel an attack by unmanned aerial vehicles aimed at Moscow. Events unfolded rapidly: more than three hours had passed since the first alarm signal, and the sky over the city was illuminated by flashes from anti-aircraft systems.
Attack Timeline: From the First Signal to Six Targets Shot Down
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, who reports promptly on social media, specified the exact time the incident began. The first alarm signal was received at 22:13. In his first message, the city head confirmed that air defense forces had destroyed one drone flying towards the capital.
The situation remained tense even an hour after the attack began. At 23:15, Sobyanin reported the neutralization of another aerial threat. According to the latest data, by morning, air defense forces had shot down a total of six drones attempting to break through to important city facilities.
Stop Signal for Aviation: Domodedovo and Pulkovo Closed
The threat to air safety forced air traffic controllers to take drastic measures. Moscow's Domodedovo airport temporarily suspended arrivals and departures. Passenger flow was blocked, and runways were closed to ensure safety.
The issue was not limited to the capital alone. According to Russian public channels, similar measures were taken in St. Petersburg: Pulkovo airport also stopped accepting and releasing flights in response to the general situation in the country's airspace.
Echo of Past Strikes and Geopolitical Context
Night attacks on Moscow have become a familiar reality in recent months. In June, Ukrainian drones attacked the Moscow Oil Refinery in the Kapotnya area twice — on June 16 and 18. The consequences of these strikes were catastrophic: experts believe the plant is unlikely to resume full operations until the end of 2026.
Massive attacks occur regularly: on July 7, the city was subjected to a strike during which air defense operated for several hours in a row. Meanwhile, at the NATO summit in Ankara on July 8, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sarcastically answered Donald Trump's question about the possibility of peace negotiations in Moscow. Zelenskyy noted that a trip to the Russian capital is currently difficult, as "Ukrainian drones are flying there".
