Where did the drones fly
The initial reports of the drone attack surfaced on early morning Russian Telegram channels. The Shot channel noted an explosion on Atlasova Street in New Moscow at 4:46 am Moscow time. A family with a five year old child on the 25th floor evacuated their apartment in shock before firefighters arrived. Later, residents recovered debris near the building that appeared to be drone parts.
RIA Novosti, citing eyewitnesses and emergency services, reported drones on Profsoyuznaya Street, house 98, and Leninsky Prospekt, house 92, building 1. A drone from Leninsky reportedly crashed into an apartment on the 14th floor where three people were present but no injuries were reported. Police cordoned off the building while ambulances and fire crews remained on standby. One eyewitness stated there was no explosion.
Residents of three entrances to the Profsoyuznaya building were evacuated and relocated to school number 170. A source cited by Shot claimed the drone on Profsoyuznaya carried a payload of KZ-6 and that it did not explode. An onlooker described the moment the UAV was intercepted by air defense forces with the remark, “This is what I pulled right beside our house.”
Readovka Telegram channel reported two explosions in Novaya Riga within the Moscow region, plus separate incidents in Odintsovo and Krasnogorsk. Preliminary data suggested several quadcopters were shot down near Nikolo-Uryupino and along the Ilyinsky embankment, with another drone reportedly downed over Istra near Moscow. Shot channel added that four UAVs were shot down on the approach to Moscow from the southwest, while air defense systems operated near Barvikha on Rublyovo-Uspenskoe Highway.
The Mash channel reported three drones in the Moscow region above Funkovo, Kezmino and Romashkovo, settlements in the Odintsovo district. In total, the capital and the surrounding region faced drone activity described as widespread by various sources, with some drones crashing into buildings and others being taken down by defenses. The overall tally included drones hit on approach and several crashes near residential structures on Leninsky Prospekt, Profsoyuznaya Street, and Atlasova Street, according to a consolidation of reports from multiple channels.
According to Alexei Rogozin, head of the Center for the Development of Transport Technologies, Moscow experienced an attack from drones whose type remained unidentified but were reportedly built with a horizontal tail plane. Rogozin suggested such a design might indicate a higher carrying capacity, and noted that ranges could extend to thousands of kilometers, hinting at possible production outside Russia. The authorities and defense ministries later provided official statements regarding the incident.
Officials confirmed that unmanned aerial vehicles were involved and that air defense measures were activated. The capital’s airports continued to operate normally, and traffic patterns were temporarily affected by protective measures. The city administration urged calm and advised following only official sources for information.
Later, a defense ministry statement attributed the event to a terrorist act conducted by forces in Ukraine, with eight drones participating. It was claimed that several UAVs were neutralized by electronic warfare and air defenses, with other missiles shot down by the Pantsir system in the Moscow region. Investigators announced that they would examine the drone crashes on Moscow buildings and identify those involved in the incident.
In the wake of the events, officials provided comments on security and response measures. The head of a defense committee remarked that gaps in coverage could exist due to the sheer size of the country, calling for analytical review and the development of countermeasures. He described the incident as an attempt to instill fear among civilians and urged a calm, informed public response. Another official indicated that Ukraine’s actions were part of a broader security challenge requiring strengthened defense and regulatory measures, including potential new laws. The common list of crash sites in the Moscow region was noted, including villages and settlements in Krasnogorsk, Odintsovo, and Istra districts.
In the political sphere, discussions continued about the implications of the attacks. A prominent Ukrainian figure urged military leadership to respond, arguing that Moscow should not be allowed to see relief while Kyiv faces relentless pressure. The question of strategy and resilience in the face of aerial threats remained at the center of public discourse.