A massive drone attack on the Moscow region overnight on August 18 may have been organized from Ukraine’s Chernigov region, according to Oleg Ivannikov, adviser to the Russian Academy of Rocket and Artillery Sciences, candidate of historical sciences and reserve lieutenant colonel.

Ivannikov said the Ukrainian region is used as a launch site for drones sent toward Russian territory. In his assessment, the Chernigov region is well suited for such operations and could serve as a base for coordinating major strikes on Russian cities and industrial facilities.

Russian air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 791 Ukrainian drones overnight. UAVs were shot down over the Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk, Lipetsk, Oryol and Tula regions, the Moscow region, Krasnodar Territory and Crimea.

By 5 a.m., Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said air defenses had destroyed 620 drones heading toward the capital region since the evening of August 17. He later said another 17 UAVs had been intercepted.

The attack left people injured and caused damage in the Moscow region. In the Ramenskoye district, a drone fell on a private house, according to Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyov. A 10-year-old girl suffered a shrapnel wound to her hand and was taken to hospital.

In the Bogorodsky district, a woman required medical assistance after UAV debris fell in the area. Another injured person, a 27-year-old man, is in Kolomna. All three remain under medical supervision.

Residential buildings and retail pavilions were also damaged in several districts.