Russia Again Interrupts Drone Attacks In Moscow, Air Traffic Was Stopped

Illustration of the Ukrainian Bayraktar TB2 drone. (Wikimedia Commons/Ministry of Defense of Ukraine)

JAKARTA - Ukrainian drones are again trying to strike targets in Moscow and its surrounding areas on Friday, but were shot down by Russian air defenses and crashed near the Krasnopresnenskaya Embankment, without causing casualties, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

"At around 8:30 am Moscow time, the Kyiv regime attempted to carry out another terror attack using unmanned aerial vehicles, targeting facilities in Moscow and surrounding areas," the ministry said, launching TASS August 18.

"After being hit by air defenses, the drone changed its flight path and crashed in a non-residential building near Moscow's Krasnopresinkaya Embankment," the ministry continued.

Citing Reuters, Russia's Defense Ministry and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said there were no casualties after the air defenses destroyed the drone that crashed at the Moscow Expo Center complex.

Expo Center is an exhibition pavilion and multipurpose hall, less than 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from the Kremlin.

Meanwhile, there was no immediate comment from Kyiv regarding this drone strike.

As a result of this incident, air traffic was temporarily suspended at four main airports around the capital - Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo and Zhukovsky, although it was later reopened.

Meanwhile, Russia's air transportation agency said seven flights were diverted to alternative airports.

It is known that drone airstrikes within Russian territory have increased since a drone was destroyed over the Kremlin in early May. Civilian areas in the capital were hit in late May and Moscow's business district was targeted twice in three days earlier this month.

Both Ukraine and Russia deny having targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure in the war that has been going on for nearly 18 months.