Moscow experienced one of its largest reported drone assaults overnight between Oct. 26 and 27, according to Russian officials, with dozens of unmanned aerial vehicles allegedly intercepted over the capital and surrounding regions.

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin began reporting the attacks on the evening of Oct. 26, posting frequent updates through the night. He claimed Russian air defenses shot down 34 Ukrainian drones heading toward the city. The Russian Defense Ministry later announced that a total of 193 drones had been intercepted nationwide overnight, including 40 over Moscow Oblast — 34 of which were reportedly bound for the capital.

These claims could not be independently verified.

Explosions were reported in multiple parts of Moscow and nearby districts, including the Kommunarka area, Russian Telegram channels said. No casualties were reported, though emergency services were dispatched to all impact sites.

Operations at Moscow’s Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports were temporarily suspended due to the ongoing aerial threat.

A separate fire erupted at an oil depot in the Serpukhov district of Moscow Oblast late on Oct. 26, according to the Russian Telegram news outlet Astra, which published eyewitness footage from the scene. Local authorities did not comment on the cause but confirmed that the blaze was later brought under control.

Ukrainian authorities have not issued a statement regarding the reported strikes. Kyiv has previously employed long-range drones to hit military and industrial targets inside Russia — including oil refineries, ammunition depots, and weapons facilities. A similar large-scale strike reportedly targeted Moscow on Sept. 22, when 34 drones were said to have been intercepted.

The overnight escalation comes amid continued Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities. Over the past two nights, mass missile and drone strikes have killed five people and injured dozens in Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Oct. 26 that Russia had launched nearly 1,200 strike drones and 50 missiles — primarily ballistic types — within the past week alone, underscoring the intensifying pace of the aerial warfare between the two countries. (ILKHA)