Camilla Jessen
Russia claims it intercepted over 100 Ukrainian drones in a sweeping overnight assault.
Russian officials say they intercepted a major Ukrainian drone attack overnight into May 22, with 105 drones reportedly shot down over 11 Russian regions, including 35 aimed at Moscow.
The strike is being described as one of the largest Ukrainian drone assaults in recent weeks, coming just one day after an attack on a Russian semiconductor plant tied to missile and aircraft production.
Moscow Airports Temporarily Closed
As the drones approached the capital, all four of Moscow’s international airports — Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky — were temporarily shut down.
Airports in Tambov and Vladimir also suspended operations.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that all the intercepted drones were flying in the direction of the capital.
Though no casualties have been officially reported, flight operations were delayed or rerouted, affecting travel across central Russia.
Damage Reported in Tula
In Tula Oblast, a region just south of Moscow, Governor Dmitry Milyaev said one drone crashed into the roof of an apartment building, causing property damage.
Several residential and non-residential buildings were also hit, though no injuries have been confirmed.
Elsewhere, drones were intercepted over Oryol, Kursk, Belgorod, Kaluga, Voronezh, Lipetsk, Smolensk, and Bryansk, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
Kyiv Silent, But Pattern Clear
As with previous similar operations, Ukraine has not officially commented on the strike, and the Kyiv Independent reported that it could not independently verify the Russian claims.
Still, Ukraine has made it clear in recent months that drone warfare is a growing part of its strategy, with the goal of targeting Russia’s military, industrial, and logistical infrastructure deep behind the front lines.
Just a day earlier, on May 21, Ukrainian drones reportedly struck a semiconductor facility in Russia’s Oryol Oblast.
That facility is believed to produce critical components for Sukhoi warplanes and Iskander and Kinzhal missiles.
Escalating Tactics on Both Sides
While Russia continues to launch missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, Ukraine’s long-range drone raids on Russian territory have intensified.
These strikes aim to undermine Moscow’s war machine by targeting production facilities and disrupting internal logistics.
In response to the attacks, Russian authorities have bolstered air defenses around key urban and industrial centers, and some regional leaders have publicly criticized gaps in preparedness.