Ukrainian drones involved in the massive overnight attack on Moscow and the surrounding region on October 22 may have been launched from the Sumy and Chernigov regions, according to military expert Anatoly Matviychuk, a retired special forces colonel.

Matviychuk identified the two Ukrainian regions as potential launch sites, explaining that drones targeting the Moscow region could travel through Kaluga and Kursk.

The analyst said Ukrainian forces had employed a tactic designed to overwhelm Russian air defenses. By sending large numbers of unmanned aircraft toward a single target simultaneously, attackers aim to overload defensive systems and allow at least some drones to break through.

Matviychuk argued that Kiev’s broader objective was to create pressure on strategically important sectors.

The October 22 assault was among the largest drone attacks on the Russian capital region since the beginning of 2026.

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported that 630 drones had been heading toward the Moscow region, with most destroyed before reaching the capital’s immediate surroundings.

Despite the interceptions, the attack caused injuries and property damage. Two people were injured in Voronovo, part of Moscow’s Troitsky Administrative District. Residential buildings, electrical networks and a medical clinic building were also damaged.

According to official figures released by the Russian Defense Ministry, Russian air defense forces shot down more than 800 Ukrainian drones during the night of October 22.