At least three people have been killed and many have been injured as more than 90 Ukrainian drones targeted the Moscow region.
Ukraine launched a “large” drone attack on Moscow, killing at least three people, causing widespread damage.
The early barrage of Tuesday, when Kiev declared its biggest drone attack on the Russian capital, came as Ukraine was preparing to present plans for a partial ceasefire with Russia during consultations with US officials in Saudi Arabia.
Moscow region governor Andrei Vorovyov announced the first death toll of the two, many others being injured in the attack that began at local time (01:00 GMT). Later on Tuesday, Evgenia Kurstaleva, head of the town of Domodedovo in the Moscow region, said a third party had died.
There were waves of attack drones, hundreds of powerful, damaged residential buildings, and the capital’s airport was closed.
Ukrainian Andri Kovalenko has said she is a national security council official responsible for countering disinformation, but said the drone attack should encourage Russian President Vladimir Putin to accept the proposed plan in Saudi Arabia.
“The biggest drone attacks in history took place in Moscow and in the Moscow region,” Kovalenko said. “This is an additional signal to Putin, and he should also be interested in a ceasefire in the air.”
Russia’s Ministry of Defense said air defenses destroyed 337 Ukrainian drones overnight, of which 91 were destroyed in the Moscow region.
Previously, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobianin described “a massive attack by enemy drones in Moscow.”
Sobianin said the drone had collapsed on the Lamenskoye and Domodedovo districts in the Moscow region. Both districts are located approximately 40km (25 miles) to 50km (30 miles) south and southeast of the Kremlin.
Russian aviation authorities Rosaviatia said flights have been restricted inside and outside the four airports, including Domodedovo, Vnukovo, Zukovsky and Shermetievo to the north, following the drone attack.
The attack came before Ukrainian and US officials met in Saudi Arabia to discuss a ceasefire agreement with Russia.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Donald Trump’s national security advisor Mike Waltz will be attending consultations that will be the most senior meeting with Kiev officials since the tragic White House meeting on February 28, when Ukrainian President Voldimir Zelenkiti was publicly awaited on February 28th.
Since Trump’s Tillard against Zelensky at the White House due to apparent strength in US military support, Washington has halted aid to Ukraine and sharing intelligence and access to satellite images to force Kiev to the negotiation table.
Zelenskyy left the White House without signing a contract that Trump demanded to make the US access to much of Ukrainian mineral wealth as compensation for past arms supplies.
The Ukrainian leader, who wrote a repentant letter to Trump after the meeting, flew to the port city of Jeddah to meet Saudi rulers on Monday evening, but was speaking to three top aides on Tuesday.
In a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, ahead of the Ukraine’s speech, Zelensky discussed Ukrainian conditions for a permanent peace agreement, including the release of prisoners and the return of children.
The two leaders “discussed the possibility of Saudi mediation in the release of military and civilian prisoners and the return of deported children,” the statement said.
“Leaders exchanged opinions on the form of security assurances and what should be for Ukraine to ensure the war doesn’t return again,” he added.
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