'Massive' drone attack on western Russia, Moscow thwarted: Officials
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Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin says a drone was shot down near the Moscow Refinery (MNPZ).
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A soldier of Ukraine's National Guard 15th Brigade launches a reconnaissance drone Penguin to determine Russian positions near the front line in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP)
A "massive" drone attack on western Russia and another targeting Moscow were thwarted, Russian authorities announced on Sunday.
"Our defenders are repelling an attempted massive UAV attack on the territory of the Bryansk region" bordering Ukraine, regional governor Aleksandr Bogomaz said.
Bogomaz reported via Telegram that the Russian military identified and destroyed at least 26 drones, with no casualties or damage resulting from the attack.
On August 21, the governor confirmed that the Russian military had foiled an attempt by a Ukrainian "reconnaissance-sabotage group" to infiltrate the Bryansk region, which has been under a Ukrainian offensive since August 6.
Overnight into Sunday, Russian forces successfully neutralized five drones launched toward the capital, according to Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin.
The attempt followed what Sobyanin previously described as "one of the largest ever" drone attacks against Moscow, in which authorities reported the destruction of 11 aircraft.
The mayor confirmed that a drone was shot down near the Moscow Refinery (MNPZ), adding that there is no threat to the refinery's operations.
"A drone was shot down near the MNPZ. There are no damages or casualties, there is no threat to MNPZ operation," he said on Telegram.
Additionally, Russian forces intercepted drones overnight in the border regions of Belgorod and Voronezh, as well as in the more distant Lipetsk and Ryazan regions.
Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported that the glass of three residential buildings was damaged, and a utility building in one private residence was completely destroyed.
In the western Oryol region, Governor Andrey Klychkov confirmed the interception of one drone.
On Wednesday, Ukrainian drones struck two fuel depots, igniting fires in southwest Russia's Rostov region and the northern Kirov region.
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