Major Disruption at Moscow Airports by Ukrainian Drone Attack

Moscow, Sep 23 (PTI) Waves of Ukrainian drones targeted the Russian capital overnight, causing major disruptions at Moscow region airports on Tuesday, according to media reports. According to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin's portal, 36 drones were shot down in and around Moscow since last evening. Two loud blasts, followed by smaller explosions, were heard near the PTI office in South West Moscow around 7 pm (local time) on Monday. State-run news agency TASS reported over 200 flights were cancelled or delayed at Moscow airports due to the drone attack. As of 10:00 am Moscow time (1230 IST), 71 flights were delayed and 96 were cancelled at Sheremetyevo International Airport. Four flights were delayed and two were cancelled at Domodedovo International Airport, while 40 flights bound for Vnukovo Airport were delayed and five were redirected to regional airports. Sobyanin stated there were no casualties, and rescue services were inspecting areas where debris from the downed drones fell. In Reutov, where BrahMos Aerospace's Russian JV partner NPOMash is headquartered, a drone struck a parking lot, destroying four cars. Surveillance footage widely shared on social media shows the drone hitting parked cars that burst into flames. This was the largest Ukrainian drone strike on Moscow since May, when similar attacks disrupted air traffic before the Victory Day Parade on May 9. During that incident, the flight carrying the Indian delegation led by MoS Defence Sanjay Seth was diverted to St Petersburg and then reached Moscow via an overnight train.