Moscow blames Ukraine for drone 'terror attack' as flights diverted

Diversions come after reports of drones being intercepted in region

Vnukovo International Airport. No reason was given for the diversion of several flights on Tuesday. Reuters

Several flights scheduled to land at Moscow's Vnukovo airport on Tuesday morning were sent to other airports, multiple Russian news agencies reported.

The flight diversions come after at least three drones were intercepted over the Moscow region early on Tuesday, Russian news agencies reported, citing emergency services, including one in the neighbouring Kaluga region.

Flights resumed at around 8am local time after operations were halted by "technical reasons beyond the airport's control".

“According to preliminary information, three drones were heading towards Moscow at different times,” the state-linked Tass reported.

Two drones were shot down near the village of Valuevo, the RIA news agency reported. The village is about 30km south-west of the Kremlin. One was in the Kaluga region, which borders the Moscow region.

Another drone was shot down in the area of the town of Kubinka, 63km west of Moscow.

Moscow later said the drones it had shot down were part of a "terror attack" by Ukraine.

"The Kyiv regime's attempt to attack an area where civilian infrastructure is located, including the airport, which incidentally also receives foreign flights, is yet another act of terrorism," said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

No one was killed or injured, she added.

There was no immediate comment from Kyiv.

The Ukrainian government almost never publicly claims responsibility for attacks inside Russia or on Moscow-controlled territory in Ukraine.

"At this moment, the attacks have been repelled by air defence forces," Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on his Telegram messaging channel, also blaming the attack on Ukraine.

"All detected drones have been eliminated."

Ukraine said on Monday that it had made progress in regaining territory in the east and south despite a "difficult" week as it wages a counter-offensive against Moscow.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said: "Last week was difficult on the front line. But we are making progress."

"We are moving forward, step by step. I thank everyone who is defending Ukraine, everyone who is leading this war to Ukraine's victory."

Last week Russia attacked the city of Kramatorsk, killing 13 people in a missile attack on a popular restaurant.

Twin teenage sisters and a renowned Ukrainian writer were among those killed in the strike.