Ukraine targets Moscow with drones for 4th consecutive day, launching at least 40 in latest strike

Editor’s note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Russian air defenses intercepted 206 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory overnight on March 17, including 40 that were heading toward Moscow, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Russian authorities reported drone attacks on the capital for the fourth consecutive day. Ukraine has not commented on the recent strikes.

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said that swarms of Ukrainian drones were intercepted beginning around 10 p.m. local time, lasting into the early morning. As of 6:15 a.m. Moscow time, 39 drones had allegedly been downed.

Emergency crews have been dispatched to the crash sites, and no casualties or damage have been reported.

Russian authorities have not reported any casualties or damage from the attack. The total number of drones launched by Ukraine remains unclear, as Russia only reports drones it says were intercepted.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify the reports at the time of publication.

The latest drone swarms on the Russian capital comes amid an apparent increase in attacks on Moscow in recent day. Sobyanin claimed on March 16 that over 250 drones, not including the latest totals, had shot down over Moscow’s sky since March 14.

Ukraine regularly launches drone attacks against military and industrial facilities in Russia.

Drone strikes on Moscow have been reported on several occasions, though the capital is well-defended against aerial threats. Many of these attacks have triggered temporary airport closures, which Ukrainian officials previously have said is part of a strategy to return the Kremlin’s war home to the Russian population.