Drones strike towers in Moscow’s business district  

Obtain free Conflict in Ukraine updates

We’ll ship you a myFT Every day Digest electronic mail rounding up the newest Conflict in Ukraine information each morning.

Drones crashed into two skyscrapers in Moscow’s premier enterprise district on Sunday, sparking a fireball and leaving massive charred holes within the aspect of the buildings, within the newest assault on the Russian capital. 

Movies taken by eyewitnesses confirmed a drone flying at daybreak between the excessive rises of the Moscow Metropolis enterprise space after which crashing, inflicting an explosion on the base of one of many towers. One other video taken from inside one of many buildings confirmed a destroyed workplace house scattered with particles.

The district, which is grouped on the embankment of the Moscow river on the western fringe of town, is residence to many main Russian corporations, corresponding to VTB Financial institution and Norilsk Nickel. Moscow’s mayor stated there have been no casualties.

The assault marks no less than the fifth time that drones have reached Moscow since Could when two drones had been shot down late at evening over the Kremlin. Others have hit buildings in suburban areas, and 6 days in the past drones additionally crashed into extra centrally positioned buildings, together with one workplace block.

There was no instant declare of duty for Sunday’s drone assault. Ukraine, which was invaded by Russian forces final yr, has tended to not declare drone assaults on Russian territory or in Crimea.

Russia’s defence ministry claimed that in Sunday’s assault the drones misplaced management and crashed after that they had been suppressed by its electromagnetic defences.

“One Ukrainian drone was destroyed within the air by air defence means over the territory of the Odintsovo district of the Moscow area,” the defence ministry stated in an announcement.

“Two extra drones had been suppressed by digital warfare means and, having misplaced management, crashed on the territory of the advanced of non-residential buildings in Moscow Metropolis,” it added.

The ministry additionally claimed to have taken down 25 drones over the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014.