Russia foils six Ukrainian drone attacks in Kaluga, Moscow

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
5 Sep 2023 08:14

According to preliminary data, there was no damage or casualties on the crash site of debris.

A Russian flag waves next to one of the Kremlin towers in downtown Moscow on February 26, 2022. (AFP)

Russian air defense forces shot down six drones in the Kaluga and Moscow regions that were targeting Moscow overnight, according to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.

"Today at night, air defense forces destroyed drones in the Kaluga Region and in the Istra district [in the Moscow Region] that were trying to commit an attack on Moscow. There were no damage or casualties on the crash site of debris, according to preliminary data. Emergency services are working on the site," the Mayor wrote on Telegram on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Russian forces intercepted a Ukrainian drone that was carrying explosives and heading for Russian territory. The drone was destroyed over the Kaluga Region, preventing a possible terrorist attack.

The Ministry later announced that the air defense systems had also intercepted and destroyed a Ukrainian drone in the Moscow Region.

50 flights were delayed or canceled at Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo airports in Moscow.

Another drone attack in the Moscow region.

Russian air defense also tried to shoot down a UAV in the Kaluga and Tver regions today.#Russia #Moscow #Ukraine #Drone pic.twitter.com/T9iSFvPrIe
— Black hat (@WorldObserver0) September 5, 2023

The overnight attempted drone attacks came after a Ukrainian sabotage group was prevented from infiltrating the border area of the Bryansk region, governor Alexander Bogomaz said Monday.

"Employees of the Border Department of the Federal Security Service of Russia in the Bryansk Region and units of the Russian Defense Ministry in the border Sevsky District of the Bryansk Region prevented an attempt to infiltrate the territory of Russia by a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group," Bogomaz said on Telegram.

This comes shortly after five out of six Ukrainian saboteurs had been eliminated by Russia's FSB, the Federal Security Service, as they attempted to infiltrate Russia through the western Bryansk region bordering Ukraine.

One day of war in Ukraine costs $100 million

Outgoing Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said Monday that Ukraine was bearing daily costs of $100 million due to the war with Russia, adding that the assistance provided by volunteers since February 2022 has only accounted for 3% of the total funds used.

Reznikov pointed out that when one compares the funds raised by various volunteer foundations and the state's daily spending of $100 million, it becomes apparent how significant the financial burden of the war is. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal previously stated that Ukraine was using 100% of its tax income for military needs, and aid from donors and allies was also being directed toward the defense sector.

"A day of war costs us $100 million. Now take the budgets of all the respectable large volunteer foundations and see how much they raise. And take the state, which spends $100 million per day in general. Just think about it," Reznikov said, as quoted by the Ukrinform news agency.