Drone Strikes Disrupt Moscow, Kyiv Suffers Intense Bombardment

Multiple Ukrainian drone strikes have led to the repeated closure of Moscow's primary airports, causing significant disruption to air travel and highlighting vulnerabilities in Russia's air defenses. Over the weekend, the Russian defense ministry reported that over 230 Ukrainian drones had been shot down since Saturday morning, with 27 of those intercepted over the capital. This wave of attacks forced all four of Moscow's major airports to temporarily suspend operations multiple times.

The closures resulted in the cancellation of more than 140 flights and the redirection of over 130 others, according to Russia's aviation watchdog. The Association of Tour Operators (Ator) stated that Moscow's airports were shut down ten times within a 24-hour period, leading to widespread travel chaos. While normal operations have since resumed, the disruptions have added to the existing strain on Russia's domestic infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Kyiv experienced a severe aerial assault overnight into Monday, described by officials as the worst in months. The city was rocked by explosions throughout the early hours, resulting in at least one fatality and six injuries. Fires erupted across several districts, causing damage to residential buildings, kiosks, a daycare center, and even the entrance to a metro station.

Kyiv's Mayor, Vitali Klitschko, reported extensive damage in multiple neighborhoods, including the Shevchenkivskyi and Dniprovskyi districts. He noted that a children's daycare center caught fire, but fortunately, there were no casualties at that location. He also mentioned damage to outdoor kiosks and the entrance of the Lukianivska metro station. The head of the Kyiv City Military Administration confirmed one fatality and reported a fire on the roof of a non-residential building.

Air raid sirens sounded across Ukraine throughout the night, with the country's air force issuing repeated warnings about Russian missiles and drones. The western city of Ivano-Frankivsk was also targeted. The mayor reported damage to infrastructure in three villages and injuries in one of them, describing the attack as the largest since the full-scale invasion began. Despite President Volodymyr Zelensky’s renewed offer of peace talks, Russia’s missile and drone assaults have intensified in recent weeks.