Russia Comes Under Missile Barrage as 613 Drones Target Moscow

Moscow was targeted by 613 drones overnight, according to the city’s mayor, in the latest in a series of large-scale drone attacks on the region.

Citing AFP, the attack took place from midnight on Wednesday into the early hours of Thursday (29 October 2026), on the day the Kremlin hosted a Russia-Africa meeting. Twenty-two African leaders are due to spend two days in the Russian capital for a summit.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Telegram that 613 drones had been launched towards the city, of which 231 were destroyed by the Defence Ministry.

“Most of the drones were intercepted by the Defence Ministry’s air defence forces at a distance. A total of 231 drones were destroyed as they approached Moscow,” he said.

The attack is the latest in a series of large-scale drone strikes targeting the Moscow region. It follows a major attack in September, when air defence forces reported bringing down more than 1,600 drones.

Meanwhile, Russia launched an attack on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, damaging an educational institution. Russia and Ukraine have been at war since 2022.