Russia says dozens of Ukrainian drones downed near Moscow

The Ministry stated earlier that 81 drones were shot down before midnight local time (2100 GMT) and another 69 before 7 am (0400 GMT). It is unclear in the official report whether any of the drones struck a target.

Moscow's Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated that 33 drones were destroyed heading towards the capital over the course of 12 hours. He stated debris was being analyzed in various locations, but did not state if infrastructure was affected.

Flight Delays in Moscow
The attempted strikes saw diversions of flights to the capital's Sheremetyevo airport, the busiest by passenger traffic in Russia, and many flights were cancelled or delayed. National carrier Aeroflot disclosed in a statement that it expects to resume full flights on Tuesday.

These reported interceptions of this number underscore the continuing riskiness of aviation. Air defence events around Moscow have been forcing delays to flight operations continuously.

Regional Responses and Defensive Measures
Officials in other areas of Russia they too reported drones. In Crimea, anti-drone units destroyed at least six drones around Sevastopol, where Russia's Black Sea Fleet is located, according to Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev. The debris from the intercepted drones caused a fire to erupt on open ground, which was extinguished as well.

In the Tula region, Governor Dmitry Milyayev stated that another drone was intercepted; again, there were no losses or damages. Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov stated that two shopping centers were closed temporarily according to his security, and recommended to keep children at home.

The drone waves playing in the report indicate the intensity continuing in the conflict. Russian officials emphasized forward defensive actions at raw points in Russia surrounding Ukraine to be abundant in long-range fires.