Military analyst Mikhail Zelenkov spoke on Radio 1 about ongoing air defense activity around Moscow. Reports indicate that a drone heading toward the capital was intercepted near Elektrostal, a town in the Moscow region. According to Zelenkov, the drones bound for Moscow have not been launched from Ukrainian territory, a point he emphasized while outlining the broader challenge of defending a wide and dispersed border in the current conflict environment.
He noted that the drone threat has persisted since the outset of the special military operation. In his assessment, attacks have repeatedly targeted not only border regions but also more distant areas inside Russia. The analyst suggested that the most probable source of these devices is not necessarily Ukraine itself but could involve launches from within Russia, where sabotage elements are active. This view reflects the difficulty of preventing incursions as groups with hostile intent continue to operate in various locations, complicating the security picture for Moscow and surrounding regions.
According to Zelenkov, material composition plays a crucial role in detection. He pointed to plastics and composite materials as factors that hinder rapid identification, enabling drones to penetrate air defenses more effectively and reach deeper into the country. This observation underscores the evolving nature of unmanned aerial threats and the need for adaptive countermeasures in surveillance and response systems.
Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported at 23:20 Moscow time on November 19 that an attempt by the Ukrainian side to mount a terrorist attack on facilities in Moscow and the Moscow region using aircraft-type UAVs had been thwarted. The ministry described the operation as a defensive success, highlighting the readiness of air defense forces to respond to airborne threats and protect critical urban and regional targets from airborne danger.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that a drone approaching the city was intercepted by air defense forces in the Elektrostal urban area of the Moscow region. The incident, part of a broader pattern of aerial incursions, has continued to shape local security measures and public communication about situational awareness and safety protocols for residents and municipal services.
There have also been reports of other unmanned aircraft activity in the broader theater, including mentions of a previously captured American UAV in a related corridor near the Zaporozhye region. The context of these events illustrates the layered and ongoing challenges of unmanned systems, international involvement, and rapid shifts in control of airspace amid a region-wide security dynamic.