Over 600 Ukrainian Drones Target Moscow Region in Major Air Assault

Aug. 18, 2026 A fire reportedly broke out at a construction site in the Moscow region after a drone attack on Aug. 18, 2026. @exilenova_plus / Telegram Ukraine launched 637 drones at Moscow and the surrounding region between Wednesday night and Tuesday morning, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said, marking one of the largest air assaults on the Russian capital since the start of the war. Russian forces downed 180 of the drones over the Moscow region, Sobyanin said, adding that emergency personnel were dispatched to the crash sites. He did not report any damage or injuries. Drones hit a warehouse of the e-commerce giant Wildberries and other sites near Moscow, regional Governor Andrei Vorobyov said in a separate statement. At least three people, including a 10-year-old girl, were injured across the region, he added. Wildberries confirmed that falling drone debris caused minor damage to the wall of its warehouse in the Moscow region. Images shared on social media appeared to show smoke rising from high-rise apartment buildings under construction following the attacks in the Moscow region. Mosoblenergo, a regional energy provider, said more than 5,000 customers were without power after drones struck infrastructure providing electricity to homes. Several other regions, including annexed Crimea, also reported heavy overnight attacks from Ukraine. Krymenergo, the Crimean peninsula's largest power supplier, said several towns in the southern part of the peninsula were without electricity following Ukrainian drone strikes. Meanwhile, in Ukraine, authorities said Russian overnight strikes killed at least 10 people in the northeastern Kharkiv region. Reuters contributed reporting. Read more about: Ukraine war , Moscow 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 Weekend Drone Attacks Disrupt Over 1K Flights at Moscow Airports This marks the fourth wave of disruptions to Moscow’s air traffic since the beginning of May, the start of the tourist high season. 2 Min read At Least 3 Killed in ‘Largest Ever’ Ukrainian Drone Attack on Moscow Russia's Defense Ministry said it downed more than 300 drones across the country overnight, including 126 over the Kursk border region. 3 Min read 87-Year-Old Man Assaulted on Moscow Bus for Alleged Wagner Criticism Dmitry Grinchiy was attacked after he allegedly called Wagner fighters “murderers” as their bus passed a memorial dedicated to the group. 2 Min read Two Drones Shot Down Near Moscow, Says Russia Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on the Telegram messaging app that "both [drones] were shot down by air defense." 1 Min read