FSB thwarts terrorist attacks by Ukraine saboteurs ahead of DPR polls

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
7 Sep 2023 09:05

Russian air defense forces thwart several Ukrainian drone attacks against Bryansk Region.

A Ukrainian kamikaze drone (Social media)

The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed on Thursday that Russian air defense forces foiled two Ukrainian attempts to attack the Bryansk region around 6:30 AM Moscow time (3:30 GMT) and 7:00 AM Moscow time.

"The Ukrainian UAV was destroyed by air defense forces on duty over the territory of the Bryansk region," the Ministry said in a statement.

Another drone was intercepted near the Bryansk region around 7:00 AM Moscow time, the statement noted

In the same context, Bryansk Region Governor Alexander Bogomaz said Russian air defense systems shot down two more drones over Bryansk City, adding that falling debris damaged the glazing of the city's railway station, surrounding areas, and several vehicles.

"Forces of the Russian Defense Ministry foiled an attack of Ukrainian terrorists. An unmanned aerial vehicle was destroyed over Bryansk. There were no casualties," the governor said on Telegram.

Bogomaz later added that yet another drone, flying toward the city, was destroyed, noting that no casualties or damage were reported in the second strike.

Earlier, Bogomaz said an attempt by a Ukrainian drone to attack Bryansk Region overnight was thwarted, adding that the drone was shot down over the Bryansky district.

Domodedovo Airport says operating normally, flight restrictions no longer in effect

Earlier, Moscow airport Domodedovo told Sputnik that restrictions on the arrival and departure of aircraft were in effect from 2:33 AM Moscow time (23:33 GMT on Wednesday) until 4:15 AM, adding that the airport is currently operating normally.

The Russian Defense Ministry said earlier on Thursday that air defense systems destroyed a Ukrainian aircraft-type drone over the Ramensky district of the Moscow region. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin, citing preliminary information, said there were no casualties or destruction reported as a result of the incident.

"According to the decision of the State Air Traffic Management Corporation, in order to ensure additional flight safety measures, temporary restrictions were introduced at Moscow Domodedovo Airport on the reception and departure of aircraft from 2:33 a.m. until 4:15 a.m.," the airport said in a statement.

The statement confirmed that the airport is operating normally now, adding that aircraft can be sent to alternate airports or continue to fly on standby while restrictions are in effect and land after the restrictions are lifted at the airport of destination.

The Russian Federal Agency for Air Transport (Rosaviatsiya) noted that the Moscow Vnukovo and Zhukovsky airports also introduced temporary restrictions on the reception and departure of aircraft on Thursday morning, but are currently operating normally,

"Early in the morning, temporary restrictions were imposed on the reception and departure of aircraft from the airports of Zhukovsky, Vnukovo and Domodedovo. In this regard, in order to ensure flight safety, one aircraft left for an alternate airfield ... Moscow airports operate normally," Rosaviatsiya said.

FSB says prevented terrorist attacks by Ukrainian saboteurs ahead of DPR elections

In a related context, employees of the Russian Federal Security Service's (FSB) Directorate for the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) have found a weapons cache in the city of Dokuchaievsk, which was planned to be used to carry out terrorist attacks by Ukrainian saboteurs ahead of the elections in the region for September 8-10, FSB told Sputnik.

"The found cache was organized by one of the sabotage units of the Ukrainian armed formations and was planned to be used to carry out terrorist attacks ahead of the Single Voting Day on the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic," the press office of the FSB Directorate for the DPR mentioned.

The office indicated that 39 assault rifles, a sniper rifle, two machine guns, two RPO-A Shmel man-portable flamethrowers, a couple of RPG-7 rocket-propelled grenade launchers, over 1,000 rounds of ammunition, and 12 high-explosive incendiaries had been seized from the cache.