MOSCOW, October 14. /TASS/. Air defenses shot down 902 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions overnight, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
The attempted Ukrainian drone attack on the Moscow Region was one of the largest in two years, according to TASS calculations based on data published by Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin.
The drone attack paralyzed operations at Moscow’s four airports: Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Zhukovsky and Sheremetyevo suspended arrivals and departures for varying periods. All four airports resumed operations at 6:44 a.m. Moscow time [3:44 a.m. GMT].
One person was killed in the drone attack in Balakovo, Saratov Region. Several residential buildings were also damaged.
Later, Sber confirmed that a drone attack targeted a data center in Balakovo, Saratov Region, noting that all the company’s systems and services are operating normally.
TASS has compiled the key details of the aftermath.
Scale
- Air defenses on duty destroyed 902 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over the Belgorod, Bryansk, Volgograd, Voronezh, Vladimir, Kaluga, Kursk, Lipetsk, Novgorod, Oryol, Rostov, Ryazan, Saratov, Smolensk, Tver, Tula, Moscow, Krasnodar and Stavropol regions, as well as Crimea and the Sea of Azov, last night, between 8:00 p.m. Moscow time on October 13 and 8:00 a.m. Moscow time [5:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. GMT - TASS].
- The attempted Ukrainian drone attack on the Moscow Region was one of the largest in two years, according to TASS calculations based on data published by Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin.
- He said that 493 drones were heading toward the Moscow Region between 8:30 p.m. Moscow time on October 13 and 7:00 a.m. Moscow time on October 14 [5:30 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. GMT - TASS].
- Most were intercepted by air defenses before they approached Moscow, with 180 destroyed as they were closing in on the capital.
- More than 160 drones were destroyed overnight in Kamensk-Shakhtinsky and the Kamensky, Kasharsky, Millerovsky, Morozovsky, Tarasovsky, Tatsinsky, Chertkovsky and Sholokhovsky districts of the Rostov Region, Governor Yury Slyusar said on Max.
- Air defenses destroyed 20 Ukrainian drones over the Kaluga Region overnight, Governor Vladislav Shapsha wrote on Max.
- Air defenses destroyed 11 Ukrainian drones over the Tula Region, Governor Dmitry Milyaev said on Max.
- A drone attack was repelled in the Stavropol Region, Governor Vladimir Vladimirov wrote on Max.
Moscow Region airport operations
- On the evening of October 13, three Moscow airports, Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky, introduced temporary restrictions on arrivals and departures, the Federal Air Transport Agency reported.
- Sheremetevo later also suspended flight operations.
- All four airports resumed operations at 6:44 a.m. Moscow time [3:44 a.m. GMT] on October 14.
- Vnukovo did not handle flights for more than eight hours. During the restrictions, all passengers were returned from aircraft to the terminals.
- Sheremetyevo said that flight schedules could change and that departures would take place as aircraft became ready.
- Domodedovo also warned of possible schedule changes. Airport services are operating in an enhanced mode to dispatch delayed flights and receive arriving aircraft as quickly as possible.
- Aeroflot continues to adjust its flight schedule for October 14 to stabilize operations as quickly as possible following temporary restrictions at Sheremetyevo, the airline said in a statement on Max.
- The airline is also continuing to notify passengers of schedule changes using the contact details provided at the time of booking.
- Passengers waiting to have their tickets reissued at Sheremetyevo are being offered bottled water.
- Depending on the length of the wait, some are also being provided with drinks, meals and hotel accommodation.
- Aeroflot representatives continue to assist passengers at alternate airports.
- Flights to Moscow are being organized in accordance with crew working-hour regulations.
- Rossiya Airlines said on Max that it was adjusting the schedules of some flights, including those operated under its shuttle service between Moscow and St. Petersburg, due to the earlier restrictions on departures and arrivals at Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo.
Aftermath in Saratov Region
- A woman was reportedly killed in a drone attack in Balakovo, Saratov Region, Governor Roman Busargin said on Max, citing preliminary information.
- Several residential buildings were also damaged.
- Emergency response services are working at the scene.
- Schools in Balakovo have canceled classes, and kindergartens will remain closed, Balakovo Municipal District Head Sergey Barulin said on Max.
- All infrastructure facilities in Balakovo are operating normally, Busargin said later.
- The district head has been instructed to organize an on-site task force and maintain regular communication with residents of the damaged buildings.
- The local administration has opened a hotline.
- Temporary accommodation will be arranged if necessary.
- The family of the woman who died will receive all necessary assistance.
- Sber confirms that a drone attack targeted a data center in Balakovo, Saratov Region, but all the company’s systems and services are operating normally, Alexander Vedyakhin, First Deputy Chairman of Sberbank’s Executive Board, told reporters.