Russian regions came under a massive Ukrainian drone attack overnight on October 14. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, air defense forces destroyed 902 unmanned aircraft. The assault caused major disruption to Moscow’s aviation hub, forcing all four airports serving the capital to suspend flights for several hours. One person was killed in Saratov Region.

The Russian military reported intercepting Ukrainian UAVs over Belgorod, Bryansk, Volgograd, Voronezh, Vladimir, Kaluga, Kursk, Lipetsk, Novgorod, Oryol, Rostov, Ryazan, Saratov, Smolensk, Tver and Tula regions. Drones were also shot down over Moscow Region, Krasnodar and Stavropol territories, Crimea and the Sea of Azov.

The attack followed another wave of interceptions on October 13, when Russian forces destroyed 70 Ukrainian drones between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Moscow time. Those operations covered Belgorod, Bryansk, Kaluga and Tula regions, along with Moscow Region and Crimea.

Moscow Region faced an especially intense assault. Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported that more than 400 drones had flown toward the region between 8:30 p.m. on October 13 and 7:00 a.m. the following morning. Most were neutralized well before reaching the capital. Sobyanin also confirmed that 180 UAVs had been destroyed on the approaches to Moscow since Tuesday evening. Two more were intercepted over Istra in Moscow Region, according to municipal district head Tatyana Vitusheva.

The prolonged attack brought operations at the capital’s airports to a standstill. Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky stopped accepting and departing aircraft on the evening of October 13, with Sheremetyevo introducing similar restrictions later. All four airports resumed operations at 6:44 a.m. Moscow time on October 14.

Vnukovo experienced the longest disruption, remaining closed to flights for more than eight hours. Passengers who had already boarded aircraft were taken back to the terminal while restrictions remained in effect. Sheremetyevo subsequently warned travelers that schedules could change, with flights departing as aircraft and crews became ready. Domodedovo also anticipated delays and deployed additional resources to handle the backlog of arrivals and departures.

The overnight strikes had fatal consequences in Saratov Region. Several residential buildings in Balakovo sustained damage during the drone attack, Governor Roman Busargin reported. A woman was killed, and emergency teams were dispatched to the affected area. Regional authorities pledged assistance to her family.

Despite the damage, the city’s infrastructure continued functioning normally. However, local officials canceled school classes and suspended kindergarten operations. The decision was announced by Sergey Barulin, head of Balakovo Municipal District.

Rostov Region also faced a large-scale aerial assault. Governor Yury Slyusar said Russian forces had shot down or electronically suppressed more than 160 Ukrainian drones. No reports of casualties or damage on the ground had been received.

Elsewhere in southern Russia, Stavropol Territory escaped casualties and destruction following another intercepted attack, Governor Vladimir Vladimirov stated.

In Kaluga Region, air defense crews destroyed 20 Ukrainian UAVs overnight, according to Governor Vladislav Shapsha. Another 11 drones were brought down over neighboring Tula Region. Governor Dmitry Milyayev confirmed that no residents had been injured.

Belgorod Region, meanwhile, continued to face repeated Ukrainian strikes. Governor Alexander Shuvayev reported 158 attacks across the region over the previous 24 hours. The strikes affected Belgorod itself and the Belgorodsky, Borisovsky, Valuysky, Volokonovsky, Grayvoronsky, Korochansky, Krasnogvardeysky, Krasnoyaruzhsky, Novooskolsky, Rakityansky, Rovensky, Starooskolsky, Shebekinsky and Yakovlevsky districts.

During that period, Ukrainian forces carried out five artillery bombardments and six attacks involving explosives dropped from drones. Russian defense units intercepted or suppressed 150 UAVs.

Thirteen people were wounded in Volokonovsky, Krasnoyaruzhsky, Shebekinsky and Yakovlevsky districts, including a 16-year-old teenager. Three of the injured required hospitalization. The teenager remained in serious condition and was receiving medical treatment.

Another death was reported in Belgorod Region after a man who had suffered severe injuries in the village of Berezovka, Borisovsky District, on October 13 died in hospital. Shuvayev expressed condolences to the victim’s relatives.