Massive drone attacks target Moscow region over weekend: authorities

MOSCOW, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- Russian air defense forces intercepted dozens of missiles and shot down 1,478 fixed-wing drones over the past day, the Russian Ministry of Defense said Sunday.

According to the ministry, Russian air defense systems also shot down 14 guided air bombs, a U.S.-made HIMARS projectile, and nine Flamingo long-range cruise missiles.

On Saturday, Russian air defense forces destroyed 1,328 Ukrainian drones, seven guided air bombs, 17 Flamingo missiles and four HIMARS projectiles, said the ministry.

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin confirmed that a record 600 enemy drones attempted to attack the Moscow region from Saturday night to Sunday morning, marking a two-year high.

"Only around one-third of the drones succeeded in approaching the Moscow outskirts before being intercepted and destroyed," Sobyanin said, adding that the drone barrage injured three civilians near the Moscow ring road.

The mayor added that more than 1,700 drones had targeted the Moscow region over the past week. The vast majority were neutralized at long range, while 123 were destroyed as they approached the capital.

In the city of Gorlovka in the Donetsk region, one person was killed and 10 civilians, including a child, were injured in Ukrainian drone attacks on Sunday, regional head Denis Pushilin said. ■