- Two Ukrainian drones shot down near Moscow, says Russia
- Huge column of smoke rises from a Russian factory after an explosion
- Sixteen were injured in a blast at a factory making Russian security forces equipment.
- Ukraine has ‘partial success’ in the south as Russia suffers ‘significant losses
Two Ukrainian drones have been shot down near Moscow overnight, Russia’s defence ministry has said. One of the unarmed aerial vehicles was destroyed near a major airport south of the city, while the second was intercepted to the west.
Drone strikes on the city have increased in recent months, with Volodymyr Zelenskyy warning last month that “war” was coming to Russia. “An attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack with unmanned aerial vehicles was prevented over the territory of the Moscow region,” the ministry said on Telegram. “Two UAVs were destroyed by air defences.”
One was shot down near Domodedovo, where one of Russia’s biggest international airports is located, and another near the Minsk motorway, Sergei Sobyanin, the city’s mayor, added. Last week, an office block in Moscow’s business district was struck twice within days by debris from a foiled drone attack.
A huge column of smoke rises from a Russian factory, as an explosion has rocked a Russian factory in a town near Moscow. The blast sent plumes of smoke billowing into the air and smashed windows in nearby high-rise buildings.
Initially, authorities reported 16 people had been injured, but that figure has now risen to 31. At least 19 people were taken to hospital, and three were moved to intensive care units with serious injuries, the governor of the Moscow region Andrei Vorobyov said.
He said the explosion in Sergiev Posad had taken place in a 40 square meter warehouse privately rented from the factory. The Zagorsk factory website states the plant makes medical equipment, but also optical equipment for Russia’s security forces. Emergency services do not suspect the blast was caused by a Ukrainian drone attack – many of which have taken place in Moscow and the surrounding area in recent weeks.
Ukraine has had “partial success” in the south of the country as it continues to conduct its counteroffensive operation, its deputy defence minister has said. Troops have been pushing forward in Melitipol and Berdyansk, and have “fixed” themselves into positions, Hanna Maliar said.
“Our defenders had partial success in the direction of Urozhayne, Priyutne and Verbove. Now they are fixed at the achieved boundaries,” she added.
In the east, Russian shelling attacks and hostilities have intensified as Moscow’s forces try to break through Ukrainian defences and push into Kupiansk, according to her update. “All the necessary decisions to strengthen our stability were quickly made on the spot by the commanders and command of the eastern group of troops,” Ms Maliar said. “Both in the east and in the south, the enemy is currently suffering significant losses in personnel, weapons and equipment.”
(With inputs from agencies)
