One killed as Ukraine launches ‘massive’ drone attack on Moscow

At least three people have been killed and many injured as more than 90 Ukrainian drones targeted Moscow region.

Ukraine has launched a “massive” drone attack on Moscow, killing at least three people and causing widespread damage.

The barrage early on Tuesday, proclaimed by Kyiv as the largest ever drone assault on the Russian capital, came as Ukraine prepares to present a plan for a partial ceasefire with Russia during talks with United States officials in Saudi Arabia.

Andrei Vorobyov, governor of the Moscow region, gave an initial death toll of two people, with many others wounded in the attack that began at 4am local time (01: 00 GMT). Later on Tuesday, Evgeniya Khrustaleva, the head of the town of Domodedovo in the Moscow region, said a third person had died.

The wave of attack drones, hundreds strong, damaged residential buildings and saw the capital’s airports closed.

Ukraine’s Andriy Kovalenko, a national security council official responsible for countering disinformation, said the drone attack should encourage Russian President Vladimir Putin to accept the proposals Kyiv plans to propose in Saudi Arabia.

“The largest drone attack in history was carried out on Moscow and the Moscow region,” said Kovalenko. “This is an additional signal to Putin that he should also be interested in a ceasefire in the air.”

Russia’s Ministry of Defence said that air defences destroyed 337 Ukrainian drones overnight, with 91 of them over the Moscow region.

Earlier, Moscow’s Mayor Sergei Sobyanin described “a massive attack by enemy drones on Moscow”, which was being repelled by Russian air defences.

Sobyanin said drones were downed over Ramenskoye and also Domodedovo district of the Moscow region. Both districts lie about 40km (25 miles) to 50km (30 miles) south and southeast of the Kremlin.

Russia’s aviation authority Rosaviatsia said flights were restricted in and out of four Mos