Moscow and its surrounding regions were rocked overnight by what Russian authorities have called the largest Ukrainian drone attack since the start of the full-scale war, with dozens of drones striking the capital and multiple surrounding areas in the early hours of March 11.
The barrage triggered explosions across several districts, damaged residential buildings, and ignited fires, raising fresh doubts about the effectiveness of Russia’s air defenses as hundreds of drones reportedly breached or overwhelmed anti-air systems.
The attacks began around 3 a.m. local time, with residents reporting intense booms and flashes across the skyline.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that air defense systems had been activated, but many drones slipped through, leaving destruction in their wake.
In the Domodedovo and Vidnoye districts, debris from intercepted drones struck apartment buildings, with fires breaking out on upper floors and windows shattered throughout high-rises. In Ramenskoye, seven upper-floor apartments were damaged, while in Chornogolovka, drone wreckage was recovered near a residential neighborhood.
One person was confirmed killed and three others injured, said regional governor Andrei Vorobyov.
This was reported by United24 Media.
Infrastructure Disrupted, Airports Shut Down
The attack also disrupted transportation and critical infrastructure. Flights at Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports were temporarily suspended, and railway tracks near Domodedovo station were damaged, halting train service for several hours.
Local authorities also reported a fire at an industrial site, although details remain unclear.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed it had intercepted 337 drones overnight, including:
91 over Moscow and the surrounding area
126 over Kursk
38 over Bryansk
Dozens more over Belgorod, Ryazan, and Voronezh
Despite these claims, the scale of damage reported on the ground and shared across social media suggests that many drones evaded or overwhelmed defenses, possibly due to electronic warfare limitations or saturation tactics.
Earlier on the same night, Ukrainian drones also struck the Novokuybyshevsk oil refinery in the Samara region, a major energy facility run by Rosneft, Russia’s state-owned oil giant. Explosions were reported by local residents and shared by Russian Telegram channel Astra.
These refineries—critical to Russia’s war logistics—have become frequent targets of Ukrainian long-range drone strikes in recent months.
