Russia Claims Ukrainian Drone Attack In Four Separate Regions: Two Airports Divert Flights, Train Station Burns

Illustration of the aircraft at Domodedovo International Airport. (TAS/Valeriy Sharifulin)

JAKARTA - Russian authorities reported a series of Ukrainian drone attacks in four separate areas on Sunday, causing two airports to divert their flights and one train station to catch fire.

Kursk, Rostov and Belgorod regions in Russia, all bordering Ukraine, reported an attempted drone strike.

The Russian Defense Ministry said it had intercepted a Ukrainian drone in Moscow and forced it to fall in uninhabited territory.

The Russian aviation control agency said it had stopped flights to Vnukovo Airport and Domodedovo in response to attacks on Moscow.

"Vnukovo and Domodedovo Airports are temporarily closed for aircraft arrivals and departures," an air traffic service representative was quoted as saying by TASS.

According to Flightradar service, the aircraft was diverted to land at Sheremetyevo, another airport in Moscow, or waiting for further instructions in the air over Ryazan.

In the Kursk area, the local governor said five people were injured and a fire broke out, as a drone hit the Kersk city train station.

"The Ukrainian drone attack in Kursk. According to preliminary information, the drone hit the roof of the train station building, triggering a fire on the roof. Five people were lightly injured due to broken glass," explained the Governor of Kursk Roman Starovoit Region via Telegram.

Details of the incident are being verified. The train station itself is located in downtown Kursk, about 150 kilometers from the border with Ukraine.

Adapun Gubernur Wilayah Rostov mengatakan, tidak ada korban luka atau kerusakan yang terjadi.

Separately in Belgorod, the governor of the province bordering Ukraine and has frequent attacks in recent months reported 12 aerial targets had been dropped near the city of Belgorod, before later saying only three drones were shot down.

"At around 14.00 Moscow time on August 20, efforts by the Kyiv regime to attack facilities in Russian territory with two aircraft-type unmanned aircraft were thwarted. The Russian air defense system destroyed the drone over the Belgorod Region," the defense ministry said, adding that no casualties or damage had been reported.

Then on Sunday, the ministry said another drone strike was successfully thwarted over the Belgorod Region at around 14:40 Moscow time.

"Russian air defense system shot down an unmanned plane over the Belgorod Region," the ministry said, adding neither casualties nor damage from the attack.

Ukraine usually does not comment on who was behind the attacks on Russian territory, although its officials have publicly expressed satisfaction with the attacks.