Russian air defence systems intercepted two Ukrainian drones approaching Moscow late Thursday, July 17, according to a statement by Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin on Telegram. The mayor reported no injuries or structural damage from the incident but said that specialists were examining the areas where fragments of the drones had fallen. This incident followed a similar one the day before, when Sobyanin stated that three drones had also been intercepted.

Following the drone threats, Russia's federal aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, temporarily suspended flight operations at two major airports near the capital—Domodedovo and Zhukovsky. However, these airports resumed normal operations shortly afterward. Later in the night, Vnukovo Airport, another major Moscow hub, also halted its services temporarily as a precaution.

In a broader update, Russia’s Defence Ministry confirmed that air defence forces had neutralized a total of 46 Ukrainian drones over a four-hour period on Thursday evening. While one drone was destroyed near the Moscow region, most were intercepted closer to the Ukrainian border. This included 31 drones over the Bryansk region and another 10 over Crimea, the territory Russia annexed in 2014.

The increasing number of drone incidents highlights the growing use of unmanned aerial vehicles in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with Moscow and surrounding regions becoming more frequent targets. Despite the escalating drone activity, Russian authorities have managed to prevent significant damage through timely air defence responses.