Ukrainian drones have been repeatedly targeting the Moscow area since March 14, carrying out sustained raids toward the Russian capital. According to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, roughly 250 drones were destroyed while approaching the city over the past two days alone.

Major General Vladimir Popov, an honored military pilot, discussed with aif.ru where these drones are most likely being launched from. In his assessment, some of the unmanned aircraft may be crossing the front line in active combat zones. This scenario is particularly plausible at night, when radar and infrared surveillance systems operate with reduced detection range.

Popov believes that most of the drones are launched from Ukrainian territory. At the same time, he suggested that about 30–40% of launches could be carried out by sabotage groups operating directly inside Russian regions. Among the Ukrainian areas that could potentially serve as launch sites, he pointed to Sumskaya, Kharkovskaya and Dnepropetrovskaya regions.

Earlier reports indicated that during the night of March 16, Russian air defense units intercepted and destroyed 145 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones over various regions of the country. Of these, 53 were shot down over the Moscow region, including 46 drones that were heading directly toward Moscow.