The governor of Moscow region, Andrei Vorobyov, has announced that a drone crashed in the region in what was likely an attempt to target civilian infrastructure.
This announcement came after the Russian defence ministry claimed to have downed two Ukrainian drones in southern Russia. The drone crashed near the village of Gubastovo, close to a facility operated by Russian energy giant Gazprom.
According to Gazprom, its operations in the Kolomna district were not affected. The drone was likely targeting a civilian infrastructure facility and did not cause any damage or injuries. The Russian security service and other authorities are investigating the matter.
If Ukraine was responsible for the drone, it would be the closest attempted drone attack on the capital since Russia invaded Ukraine more than a year ago.
In response, President Vladimir Putin instructed the FSB to intensify its counterintelligence and strengthen security in the territories occupied by Russia in eastern Ukraine.
The incident occurred while Russia’s fighter jets were involved in a training exercise in the country’s western airspace, and hours after airspace over St Petersburg was closed due to reports of an unidentified object.
