Russia’s forces have announced the destruction of Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow and warships in the Black Sea, escalating tensions in the region, with attacks intensifying from both sides following Russia’s withdrawal from a previous deal.
Russian forces have destroyed Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow and its Black Sea Fleet, officials said, the latest in a surge of attacks on the capital and the flash point waterway.
Russia’s defense ministry said its air force downed a Ukrainian drone over the capital on Friday at about 04:00 (0100 GMT).
“The UAV, after being exposed to air defense weapons, changed its flight path and fell on a non-residential building in the Krasnopresnenskaya embankment area of Moscow,” the ministry said on Telegram.
Moscow’s mayor said emergency services were on the scene, but early reports indicated no casualties.
State-run news agency TASS reported that one of the walls of the venue’s pavilion had partially collapsed, citing emergency services.
TASS also reported that the airspace near the international airport of Vnukovo was briefly closed, with departures and arrivals delayed, citing the aviation service.
Hours before the strike on Moscow, Russia thwarted a Ukrainian marine drone attack on its warships in the Black Sea, the latest in a string of assaults on its fleet.
Russia’s defense ministry said the drone was destroyed late Thursday night by navy patrol ships 237 km (147.26 miles) southwest of Sevastopol, the base of its Black Sea Fleet on the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula.
Attacks from both sides have escalated in the Black Sea since Russia pulled out of a deal that had allowed the safe export of Ukrainian grain through the shipping hub.
The attack came hours after a civilian cargo ship sailing through the Black Sea from Ukraine reached Istanbul in defiance of a Russian blockade.
Moscow announced last month that it would consider any ships nearing Ukraine in the Black Sea as potential military cargo carriers.
Miroslava Salazar, with AFP
