Lead

Moscow has faced one of its largest drone attacks in two years, according to TASS estimates based on data from Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin. The Russian state news agency reported that over 190 unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed on June 18, marking the largest attack in two years, and that 84 drones were shot down since midnight on June 22, making that attack one of the largest as well.

Coverage comparison

TASS, the only outlet whose reporting was examined, framed the June 18 attack as "an attempted Ukrainian drone attack" and described it as the largest in two years. Its estimates are based on Mayor Sobyanin's reports. For the June 22 attack, TASS used similar language, calling it "one of the largest in two years," again citing the mayor's data. The June 16 attack was described as "one of the largest this year."

The reports also provide a timeline of recent attacks. On June 18, air defenses shot down 180 drones over eight hours, according to the mayor's latest information at the time. The previous record was 81 drones shot down during the first half of the day on May 17. On June 22, 84 drones heading for Moscow were shot down since midnight.

TASS noted that the mayor reported the destruction of 60 drones overnight into June 17, and another 38 on May 16. On May 7, 61 drones were shot down.

Key claims

The following key claims are drawn from TASS reports citing Mayor Sobyanin:

  • 84 drones were shot down since midnight on June 22.
  • Over 190 drones were destroyed on June 18, marking the largest attack in two years.
  • 180 drones were shot down over eight hours on June 18.
  • 81 drones were destroyed on May 17.
  • 38 drones were downed on May 16.
  • 61 drones were shot down on May 7.
  • 60 drones were shot down flying toward the capital (as reported on June 16 and overnight into June 17).
  • 65 drones were shot down on March 14 and March 15 (in different reports).
  • 54 drones were downed on March 15 and May 16 (in different reports).
  • 42 drones were destroyed between 2:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. on March 16.
  • 74 drones were shot down near Moscow on March 11, 2025.
  • 55 drones heading for Moscow were destroyed on May 5-7, 2025.
  • 46 drones were shot down over the Moscow Region on September 22-23.
  • Emergency response teams were working at crash sites after the June 18 attack.
Mayor Sobyanin was quoted as saying on March 11, 2025, that "the most massive enemy drone attack on Moscow has been repelled," with 74 UAVs shot down near Moscow and hundreds more downed farther away.

TASS's reports repeatedly emphasize the scale of the attacks, comparing them to previous incidents. All figures come from official Russian sources, and no independent verification was possible within the scope of this article.

The reports do not provide information on damage or casualties from these attacks, aside from noting that emergency response teams were working at crash sites after the June 18 attack.