Drone explodes in Moscow’s north-west

A drone has exploded near the Karamyshev embankment in the north-west of Moscow, Telegram channel Baza reports, citing eyewitnesses. 

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin has confirmed the drone attack. “A drone attempted to fly into the city. It was liquidated by the air defence systems,” he says. According to Sobyanin, no one was hurt following the drone falling down in the Karamyshev embankment area and there was no significant damage done. Emergency crews are operating on site.

Telegram channel Mash quotes bystanders saying that the drone was flying along the river bed at an altitude of 150 metres. Then there was the sound of an explosion, with an air defence system presumably being activated. 

Baza claims that the drone was flying from the direction of the Istrinsky district of the Moscow region. Pieces of the fallen drone have been found in the parking zone of a city hospital, with emergency crews currently on their way there, Mash reports.

Earlier in the day, the airspace over Moscow’s Vnukovo airport was closed. An hour later, the airport was reopened. State media RIA Novosti reported that drone threat was the reason for the temporary shut down, but there has been no official confirmation as yet.

On 10 August, two drones were shot down on approach to Moscow. Restrictions on the number of departing and incoming planes were introduced in the Vnukovo and Domodedovo airports.