Ukraine launches massive drone attack on Moscow and Balakovo, four airports shut
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said approximately 493 drones headed toward the Russian capital from the evening of October 13, with 180 destroyed on approach. Four Moscow airports suspended operations, with Vnukovo closed for more than eight hours. Separately, drones struck the city of Balakovo in Saratov Oblast, reportedly hitting a Sberbank data center and energy facilities.
Key points
- Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said approximately 493 drones headed toward Moscow from the evening of October 13.
- According to Sobyanin, 180 of the drones were destroyed on approach to Moscow.
- Four Moscow airports — Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo, and Zhukovsky — temporarily suspended operations.
- Vnukovo was non-operational for more than eight hours, and all passengers were removed from flights.
- On the night of October 14, drones attacked Balakovo in Saratov Oblast, with OSINT analysts Exilenova+ reporting hits on a Sberbank data center and energy facilities.
- Local residents in Balakovo reported dozens of explosions and fires in several districts.
- The Shatura thermal power plant in Moscow Oblast was hit by a drone attack.
Why it matters
The reported scale of the attack — roughly 493 drones directed at Moscow — makes it one of the largest drone offensives of the conflict. The shutdown of four major airports, with Vnukovo closed for over eight hours, shows the disruption to civilian air travel. Strikes beyond the capital on a Sberbank data center, energy facilities in Balakovo, and the Shatura thermal power plant point to a widening targeting of Russian strategic and energy infrastructure.
What happened
On the night of October 13–14, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said approximately 493 drones were directed toward the Russian capital, with 180 reportedly destroyed on approach. The drone threat led to temporary shutdowns at Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo, and Zhukovsky airports. Vnukovo was non-operational for more than eight hours, and all passengers were removed from flights there. The Telegram channel Astra reported the attack on October 14. In parallel, drones struck the city of Balakovo in Saratov Oblast overnight, with OSINT analysts Exilenova+ reporting hits on a Sberbank data center and energy facilities; local residents described dozens of explosions and fires across several districts. The Shatura thermal state district power plant in Moscow Oblast was also reportedly hit.