Moscow, March 15 (IANS). Russian air defense systems shot down 170 Ukrainian drones in a massive overnight strike, including 27 headed directly towards Moscow. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, air defense successfully intercepted and destroyed these drones in various areas from Saturday night to Sunday morning.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on social media channels that 27 drones heading towards Moscow were shot down by Russian air defense systems.
Temporary restrictions on arrivals and departures have been imposed at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport and Kaluga Airport in the Kaluga region, according to Rosviatsiya, Russia’s civil aviation authority. These restrictions were necessary to ensure the safety of flights.
According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, Russian forces carried out attacks on energy and transportation infrastructure used by Ukrainian troops, on sites involved in the training and launch of long-range drones, and on temporary deployment sites of Ukrainian armed forces and foreign mercenaries.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that Russia launched about 430 drones and several ballistic missiles toward Ukraine, according to Xinhua News Agency. He urged for expediting agreements on missile supplies and production of air defense missiles.
“The Russians launched about 430 drones of various types and a significant number of missiles. Only 13 were ballistic missiles, and the total number of missiles fired in this attack was 68. According to preliminary data, our air defense system intercepted 58 of these missiles,” he said in a post on the social media platform X.
The post further said that such attacks are a reminder of the importance of air defense and said, “Each such night of Russian attacks reminds all our partners that air defense and the missiles for them are actually a daily necessity. Every agreement on missile supplies cannot wait. Everything must be implemented as soon as possible. Our agreements to increase the production of air defense missiles are an important direction, and it is necessary to pay 100 percent attention to this direction.
He said that Russia will try to take advantage of the war in the Middle East to cause more destruction here, in Europe and in Ukraine. This is why we must be fully aware of the actual level of threat and prepare accordingly. In Europe we need to develop the production of air defense missiles, especially those capable of countering ballistic threats, as well as all other systems that are essential for the protection of life, no matter what is happening in other parts of the world. Europe is able to ensure this level of reliable security. Thanks to everyone who is helping.”
–IANS
AY/DKP