Nearly 9K Ukrainian Drones Targeted Moscow in August, Mayor Says

Sep. 2, 2026 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Almost 9,000 Ukrainian drones targeted Moscow and the surrounding region in August, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Wednesday. “Between 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 1 and 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 1, 8,670 drones flew toward the Moscow region,” Sobyanin wrote in a post on Telegram. He claimed air defenses intercepted the “vast majority” of the unmaned aircraft before they reached the outskirts of the Russian capital, while 795 drones were destroyed on approach to Moscow. Sobyanin did not disclose how many drones broke through layers of air defense around Moscow or provide figures on casualties or damage caused by falling debris. He shared a motion graphic video showing lines representing drones launched toward Moscow along the entire Russian-Ukrainian border. Aug. 18 marked one of the heaviest drone attacks on Moscow since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, when Sobyanin said nearly 650 drones were launched at the city in a single night. Sobyanin’s figures come the day after Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky warned airlines and insurance companies that Ukrainian drones had effectively closed Russia’s airspace. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv had notified the International Civil Aviation Organization that Russian airspace is unsafe for commercial flights. Russia’s Transportation Minister Andrei Nikitin said that civil aviation authorities were working with the military to prevent “any significant disruption” to domestic air travel. Read more about: Moscow , Drones , Moscow region , Ukraine war Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Ukrainian Drones Slam Into Moscow Apartment Buildings One of the drones appeared to have crashed into a residential building not far from Russia’s Military Academy of the General Staff. 1 Min read Moscow Targeted by Second Ukrainian Drone Attack in a Week Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said emergency crews were dispatched to areas where debris from several intercepted drones had fallen. 2 Min read Moscow Repels 'Large-Scale' Ukrainian Drone Attack, Mayor Says "It's one of the largest-ever attempts to attack Moscow with drones," Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said. 1 Min read Russia Claims 13 Ukrainian Drones Destroyed Over Crimea, Moscow Russia said it repelled Ukrainian drone attacks over several parts of Crimea, outer Moscow and the Belgorod and Voronezh regions on Sunday. 2 Min read