Russian air defence forces intercepted 37 drones targeting Moscow as Ukraine and Russia exchanged accusations of ceasefire violations amid escalating aerial attacks, airport disruptions, and continued frontline strikes across multiple regions.
A fresh wave of aerial attacks intensified tensions between Russia and Ukraine on Friday after Russian authorities said air defence systems intercepted at least 37 drones heading toward Moscow. The attacks came amid growing accusations from both sides that declared ceasefire commitments were being violated across the battlefield.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that Russian air defence units successfully destroyed the drones before they could reach the Russian capital. Emergency crews were immediately dispatched to locations where debris from the intercepted drones had fallen. Sobyanin shared updates through Telegram, noting that specialists were assessing the impact areas and ensuring public safety.
The latest incident followed another major drone offensive on Thursday, described as one of the largest attacks against Moscow this year. According to Russian state media reports citing city authorities, 61 drones were reportedly intercepted throughout the day around the capital region.
Russia’s Defence Ministry stated earlier Friday that its air defence systems had destroyed 145 Ukrainian drones within a seven-hour period between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. local time. The ministry said the interceptions occurred across several Russian regions, reflecting the increasing scale of cross-border aerial warfare.
At the same time, transportation infrastructure in southern Russia faced disruption after a Ukrainian drone strike reportedly targeted the administrative building of the Southern Russia Air Navigation branch. The Russian Ministry of Transport said the attack affected operations at 13 airports across southern parts of the country.
Authorities temporarily adjusted operations at the regional air traffic control centre located in Rostov-on-Don, which coordinates air traffic management throughout southern Russia. Officials confirmed that all personnel at the facility remained unharmed, while technical experts began inspecting equipment and determining the operational status of navigation systems.
The Russian Ministry of Transport and the Federal Air Transport Agency are currently coordinating with airlines and airport authorities to revise flight schedules and implement alternative traffic management procedures. The disruptions highlighted the growing vulnerability of civilian infrastructure amid the continuing conflict.
Meanwhile, both Moscow and Kyiv exchanged accusations of violating recently announced ceasefire arrangements. In a statement released through Telegram, the Russian Defence Ministry alleged that Ukrainian forces committed more than 1,300 ceasefire violations involving artillery shelling, border attacks, and drone operations. Russian officials claimed their military responded with what they described as “symmetrical retaliatory strikes.”
On the Ukrainian side, President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russian forces of continuing overnight attacks along frontline positions despite public declarations regarding a temporary halt in hostilities. Zelensky stated that Russia launched hundreds of drone strikes and carried out numerous assaults against Ukrainian defensive positions.
In a message posted on X, Zelensky said that by 7 a.m. local time, Russian forces had conducted more than 140 strikes and at least 10 direct assaults across various sectors of the frontline. He emphasized that Ukraine would continue responding proportionally to Russian military actions.
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Earlier this week, Russia announced a temporary ceasefire to coincide with World War II Victory Day commemorations. However, Ukrainian authorities maintained that Russian attacks had not stopped, prompting Kyiv to declare its own ceasefire timeline beginning Wednesday.
The continuing escalation demonstrates how fragile diplomatic efforts remain as drone warfare becomes an increasingly central feature of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. With both nations accusing each other of breaching ceasefire commitments, fears are growing that aerial attacks on major cities and critical infrastructure could further intensify in the coming days.
