Most of 613 Drones Aimed at Moscow Shot Down as Kharkiv Institution Hit

Russian air defences intercepted most of a large wave of 613 drones heading towards Moscow overnight, the capital’s mayor said on Thursday, while a Russian strike on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, damaged an educational institution. The overnight exchange showed how the war between Russia and Ukraine continues to reach cities far from the front lines, with both sides reporting attacks in the early hours.

FAKTA

• 613 drones were reported heading towards Moscow overnight; most were shot down, according to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.
• The mayor shared the update on Telegram on Thursday, 29 October 2026.
• A Russian attack on Kharkiv damaged an educational institution, according to Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov.
• No casualty figures were given in the initial reports from either city.
• Kharkiv, in north-eastern Ukraine near the Russian border, has been repeatedly struck since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

Moscow air defences intercept overnight drone wave

Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Russian air defences brought down most of the 613 drones that were heading towards the capital during the night. He gave the update on Telegram on Thursday morning. The authorities did not immediately say what the drones were targeting, and no damage or casualties in Moscow were reported in the initial accounts.

Russia has repeatedly reported Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow and other regions during the war. Ukraine has used long-range drones to strike military and strategic targets inside Russia, and large overnight waves aimed at the capital have become a recurring feature of the conflict.

Kharkiv educational institution damaged

In Ukraine, meanwhile, Russia attacked Kharkiv, the country’s second-biggest city, damaging an educational institution, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on Telegram. He did not immediately give further details about the extent of the damage or whether anyone was hurt.

Kharkiv lies in north-eastern Ukraine, close to the Russian border, and its location has made it a frequent target since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Schools and other public buildings in the city have repeatedly come under fire, adding to the pressure on communities that have lived with the war for years.

A war reaching beyond the front lines

The latest incidents underline how the conflict continues to affect cities and public infrastructure on both sides. While fighting rages along the front lines in eastern and southern Ukraine, overnight drone and missile exchanges now regularly reach deep into each country’s territory.

Officials in both capitals tend to release only partial details in the first hours after such attacks, with fuller assessments of damage following later. For more international coverage, visit Watan News International.