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Russia intends to continue its war against Ukraine, with the Kremlin citing Ukrainian drone attacks during major political events as further justification for prolonging the fighting.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov made the remarks, according to Russia’s TASS news agency.
During the previous night, Ukrainian forces launched a large-scale drone attack on Russian territory. Although Russia’s Defense Ministry did not disclose the total number of drones involved, reports cited a figure exceeding 1,200.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 613 drones had been heading toward the Russian capital and the surrounding region.
“Most of the drones were neutralized by the Defense Ministry’s air defense forces at long range. A total of 231 drones were destroyed as they approached Moscow,” Sobyanin claimed.
According to TASS estimates, the attack was among the largest Ukrainian drone assaults on Moscow and the surrounding region in the past year. Peskov said Russian air defenses had repelled the aerial attack.
“Attacks during the Russia-Africa summit once again underscore that the special military operation must continue,” Peskov said, using the Kremlin’s official term for the war against Ukraine.
Drone attacks reported across Russia
The Russia-Africa summit is currently taking place in Moscow, with representatives from 48 African countries attending. Russian President Vladimir Putin is also addressing the gathering.
Amid heightened security, central Moscow has been closed to traffic, while mobile internet services have experienced disruptions.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said it had intercepted Ukrainian drones overnight on October 29 over the following regions:
- Bryansk
- Belgorod
- Kursk
- Kaluga
- Tula
- Smolensk
- Lipetsk
- Voronezh
- Tver
- Oryol
- Ryazan
- Vladimir
- Samara
- Saratov
- Penza
- Rostov
- Moscow region
- Republic of Bashkortostan
- Udmurt Republic
