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Ukraine launched its largest drone attack on Moscow today, causing damage, minor injuries and spreading concern among much of the local population, who see how the war that the government does not want to call by its name is getting closer. Some media speak of more than 25 drones attacking the Russian capital almost at the same time. Preliminary data suggest that these are Ukrainian-made pilotless aircraft.

The Defense Ministry said eight aircraft-shaped drones were destroyed by air defense systems. There are images of apartment buildings affected, either because they were targeted or because they were hit by drones when they were deflected or shot down by Russian defenses.

The operation comes a few weeks after the Kremlin was attacked with drones that Russia links to Ukraine and whose responsibility, as always when attacking Russian territory, Kiev denied.

Russia's Defense Ministry denounced Ukraine as being behind the drone attack on Moscow. "In the morning, the Kiev regime launched a terrorist attack with unmanned aerial vehicles on the Moscow facility," the ministry said just hours after the Russian regime itself launched the umpteenth large-scale attack on the city of Kiev. The Ukrainian capital is attacked almost daily.

Russia's Defense Ministry said eight drones had targeted the capital. But Baza, a Telegram channel with links to security services, said more than 25 drones were involved. The RBC news site quoted a source as saying that "more than ten" drones had been shot down by anti-aircraft systems.

Mikhail Podolyak, adviser to the president of Ukraine, joked about the attack: "Perhaps not all drones are ready to attack Ukraine and want to return to their creators." Regarding the attack in Moscow, he said that "we are watching it with pleasure, and we predict an increase in the number of attacks," but denied having a "direct relationship." "All the people who think that they can play a game on a single field, that it will be possible to destroy another sovereign state with absolute impunity, after 15 months, did they not understand that it will not be like in 2014?"

Many Russians have long feared such an attack, but the news has still been greeted with shock by Muscovites. For weeks there have been fears of Ukrainian attacks on capitals or a closure of borders or airspace. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that two people had required medical assistance after the attack, which caused no casualties. Russia's Investigative Committee admitted that several drones had fallen on buildings in Moscow, causing minor damage. According to Defense, five drones were shot down by the Pantsir-S anti-aircraft weapons and missile system, which for months has protected the capital installed on some rooftops. The rest were shot down interfering with their signal.

The Telegram channel Shot talks about up to 32 drone strikes, 19 of which were shot down in the Moscow region and about ten fell in the city, snagging in the trees. Three more hit residential buildings on Leninsky Prospekt (one of the major avenues leading to the center from the south) Profsoyuznaya (south) and also in New Moscow. At number 98 Profsoyuznaya Street, a drone penetrated the upper floors of the house, piercing the façade and glazing of the building. Residents of three portals were evacuated. Several streets of Leninsky Prospekt had to be cut off, RIA Novosti reports. Explosions were heard, according to local media, in outskirts districts such as Odintsovo and Krasnogorsk, as well as in the area of roads that give access to the capital such as Rublevskoye, located just 10 minutes from where President Vladimir Putin resides. "I ask residents to remain calm," wrote Moscow Region Governor Andrey Vorobyov. The police have activated the Typhoon plan, a special emergency regime.

In Moscow, satellite navigation signals are being jammed to prevent these attacks. Taxi drivers and drivers complain about GPS malfunction.

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