Drones strike towers in Moscow’s business district

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Drones crashed into two skyscrapers in Moscow’s premier business district on Sunday, sparking a fireball and leaving large charred holes in the side of the buildings, in the latest attack on the Russian capital.

Videos taken by eyewitnesses showed a drone flying at dawn between the high rises of the Moscow City business area and then crashing, causing an explosion at the base of one of the towers. Another video taken from inside one of the buildings showed a destroyed office space scattered with debris.

The district, which is grouped on the embankment of the Moscow river on the western edge of the city, is home to many leading Russian companies, such as VTB Bank and Norilsk Nickel. Moscow’s mayor said there were no casualties.

The attack marks at least the fifth time that drones have reached Moscow since May when two drones were shot down late at night over the Kremlin. Others have hit buildings in suburban areas, and six days ago drones also crashed into more centrally located buildings, including one office block.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Sunday’s drone attack. Ukraine, which was invaded by Russian forces last year, has tended not to claim drone attacks on Russian territory or in Crimea.

Russia’s defence ministry claimed that during Sunday’s attack the drones lost control and crashed after they had been suppressed by its electromagnetic defences.

“One Ukrainian drone was destroyed in the air by air defence means over the territory of the Odintsovo district of the Moscow region,” the defence ministry said in a statement.

“Two more drones were suppressed by electronic warfare means and, having lost control, crashed on the territory of the complex of non-residential buildings in Moscow City,” it added.

The ministry also claimed to have taken down 25 drones over the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014.

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