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These amateur videos are circulating on the Internet: they are supposed to show explosions and unmanned aerial vehicles. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said several drones had attacked the Russian capital.
Two people are said to have been injured in the attack. Facades of high-rise buildings show minor damage. Residents were evacuated.
Residents of Moscow
"I live on the second floor of the building across the street, at number 32. At about 4 o'clock in the morning (0300 CET) – I had checked – there was a deafening bang, as if a huge lightning bolt had struck somewhere nearby. I thought it was an anti-aircraft system that was triggered, because I live in an area where something like this can happen, and I know what it sounds like. I went out to check – there were a lot of rescue workers on the scene, and you could see that the top of the building was damaged."
Videos on social networks allegedly show the launch of an unmanned aerial vehicle. In various places, clouds of smoke stand over the Moscow skyline. The Russian Defense Ministry said Kyiv had sent drones and speaks of "Ukrainian terrorism". Television footage shows Russian authorities examining debris on the ground.
In total, according to the Ministry of Defense, eight drones were used, all of which were destroyed. Moscow did not provide any evidence for the accusations. Ukraine rejects the allegations. One had "nothing directly to do with it," it said.
In recent weeks, alleged drone strikes on Russian territory have intensified, with attacks on oil facilities and even on the Kremlin earlier this month. Moscow has blamed these attacks on Ukraine – Kiev denies having anything to do with them.