Russia's Defense Ministry said Wednesday it shot down three Ukrainian drones in the central Kaluga region, the latest in a surge of air attacks deep inside Russia.
Ukraine launched the attack at 5:00 am using "three unmanned aerial vehicles against buildings in the Kaluga region," the ministry said on the Telegram messaging app.
"All of the drones were detected and destroyed in a timely manner by Russian air defense systems," the statement continued.
Kaluga region Governor Vladislav Shapsha said the drones were shot down in the south of the region, a few hundred kilometers southwest of Moscow.
"People and infrastructure have not been impacted [by the drones]," Vladislav Shapsha said on Telegram.
The air attack is at least the fifth this month over the Kaluga region that Russia says it has thwarted.
Authorities previously said they had intercepted drone attacks in the region on Aug. 12, 10, 7 and 3.
Until a series of attacks in recent months, Moscow and its surrounding regions had not been targeted during the war in Ukraine, which began more than a year ago.
In recent weeks, drones have attacked the Russian capital's financial district, causing minor damage to the facades of high-rise buildings.
Last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that "war" was coming to Russia, with the country's "symbolic centers and military bases" becoming targets.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
